M6 chaos after lorry crash

Rush hour traffic was brought to a standstill across the West Midlands today after the M6 was closed following a crash between two lorries.

Queues of traffic stretched back for about six miles along the northbound carriageway between Junction 12 at Gailey and Junction 10 at Walsall.

There was chaos on surrounding roads as motorists tried to find alternative routes.

The accident happened on the northbound carriageway between Junction 12 at Gailey and 13 at Stafford shortly before 6am.

Two lorries collided after one jack-knifed and one man had to be taken to hospital with minor injuries as a precaution.

Highways Agency staff rushed to the scene to arrange for the lorries to be moved and both HGVs had been moved from the carriageway by 9am but the motorway remained closed while a diesel spillage was cleaned up. Traffic spilled onto local roads as diversions were put in place and the A5 through Cannock came to a standstill. Queues also stretched back along the A449 from Wolverhampton to the motorway.

* Motorway traffic was heavy yesterday after a lorry jack-knifed at 4.20pm between Junction 11 at Cannock and Junction 10a where the M6 meets the M54.

And at about 5pm yesterday a lorry jack-knifed and smashed into a lamp post on the hard shoulder of the M6 after the driver braked to avoid hitting a queue of traffic.