M6 closed southbound after two vans crash

The motorway was shut southbound following the crash near Stoke-on-Trent

The M6 was closed southbound in Staffordshire after a crash between two vans.

The full closure between junction 15 for Stoke-on-Trent and junction 14 for Stafford was to provide a "sterile area" for police officers to work in, National Highways said.

The crash was reported about 14:15 GMT and three lanes of the motorway were initially closed before the entire southbound carriageway was shut after 15:00 GMT.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said there were three patients including one man with potentially serious injuries.

The man, a driver of one of the vans, was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital while another man and woman were checked over and discharged at the scene.

Traffic was being diverted off via the A500 and along the A34 to get to junction 14.

By 20:00 GMT, all lanes had re-opened but traffic remained slow.