Fire on overturned lorry closes motorway

The driver of the lorry suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital

A lorry overturned and caught fire on a motorway resulting in the closure of a large stretch of the road.

The driver was taken to hospital with "minor injuries" following the crash on the M6 in Cumbria, which left a 21-mile section of the northbound carriageway between junctions 36 and 39 shut to traffic.

Cumbria Police warned drivers to avoid the area and expect significant delays, with the closure expected to last most of the day. A long diversion route is in place.

The southbound carriageway of the road, which is the major route through the county, was also reduced to one lane between junctions 38 and 37, National Highways said.

National Highways said the delays would continue because the road "likely requires emergency resurfacing following significant damage".