M11 aerosol cans lorry fire closes motorway in both directions

Firefighters arrived just before 17:00 BST and discovered the lorry completely alight

A stretch of the M11 is closed after a lorry carrying aerosol cans caught fire, causing them to explode and scatter across both carriageways.

Firefighters tackled the blaze between junction eight for Stansted Airport in Essex and junction nine for Duxford in Cambridgeshire.

Essex Police said the slip road for the A11 had also been closed.

Traffic is at a standstill in both directions and motorists are being advised to find alternative routes.

The fire caused aerosol cans to explode, scattering them across the both carriageways

The fire began shortly before 17:00 BST, with crews from five fire stations attending. They had left the scene by 20:20.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service station manager Dave Bond said the aerosol cans "scattered across both side of the carriageway" in the explosion.

The road will remain closed until the debris is cleared.

Mr Bond said: "Thankfully the driver was not badly hurt."

He also praised the control team "who received dozens of calls with conflicting reports but still managed to get crews to the scene quickly".

Essex Police said the northbound carriageway was unlikely to be reopened before midnight, while the southbound carriageway needs additional work from Highways England, so may not reopen before 08:00.

The road may not fully reopen until Thursday morning