Foreign lorry hurtles wrong way down M6

A foreign lorry hurtled more than three miles down the M6 in the wrong direction, terrifying hundreds of motorists before being brought to a halt by quick-thinking HGVs drivers.

The European lorry brought chaos to the northbound carriageway after it left Hilton Park Services near Cannock by the wrong sliproad.

It travelled down the middle lane of the carriageway three miles until it reached junction 10 for Walsall and Wolverhampton, where three lorry drivers formed a barricade to stop it.

Terrified motorists who saw the lorry coming towards at 10.30pm on Saturday night them called police who were on the scene within minutes. He tested positive for drinking alcohol and was arrested for dangerous driving.

Warning signs had flashed up telling drivers of the oncoming juggernaut and many had to change lanes to avoid it.

Drivers were also told to slow down as the lorry approached with speed limits along the section reduced to 30mph.

Onlookers said despite the warnings it had still been a "terrifying" experience due to the size of the vehicle going the wrong way. Police said there had been no accidents or injuries as a result of the incident.

Photographer Jonathan Hipkiss, aged 24, of Halesowen, said he had seen the vehicle around junction 10. "The gantry signs were warning drivers a vehicle was oncoming and the speed limit was brought down to 30mph," he said. "I was travelling in the first lane so did not have to change. Despite everything it was still quite scary to see the juggernaut go past in the wrong direction. It was in the middle lane and was flashing its front lights. It was a really strange experience."

Fellow driver Collette Henry, of Codsall, added: "I could not believe what I was seeing. The juggernaut was just coming towards me and did not have any lights on. I moved lanes and then pulled up to call the police. It is just something you do not expect to see."

West Midlands Police spokesman Deb Edmonds said: "The vehicle passed through junction 10 after accessing the carriageway from the services. Three HGVs blocked the vehicle's path. Officers then dealt with the situation."