M25 stretch closed for 17 hours due to lorry fire

The anti-clockwise stretch was closed for more than 17 hours after the lorry caught fire

A section of the M25 where a lorry caught fire was closed off for more than 17 hours to allow for repair work.

The carriageway was shut in both directions between junction 31 at Thurrock and junction 29 for the A127 after the fire broke out on the anti-clockwise side at about 12:25 BST on Wednesday.

Eight fire appliances attended, from Essex, Kent and London.

The clockwise section was reopened at about 14:00, but it was not reopened anti-clockwise until 06:00.

Fire appliances were sent from Essex, London and Kent

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze produced a particularly large amount of smoke because the lorry was carrying tyres.

Crews stayed at the scene to extinguish hotspots.

Urgent repairs to the road surface and barriers were carried out.

Police said no injuries were reported from the scene.

National Highways said the road was closed overnight while resurfacing and repair work was carried out