Thousands of drivers suffer major delays with two M25 closures

Thousands of drivers are suffering severe delays because of two closures on the M25.

The motorway is closed in the clockwise direction between Junction 5 in Kent and Junction 6 in Surrey due to a lorry fire.

Meanwhile, the northbound east tunnel of the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex is also closed, after a maintenance vehicle breaking down caused a large spillage.

Both closures are causing several miles of congestion and are expected to remain in place throughout Monday.

The lorry fire happened in Surrey between Clacket Lane service station and Junction 6 late on Sunday night.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service said at around 7am on Monday that one fire engine remained at the scene, with the crew damping down hot spots.

The motorway was initially closed in both directions between Junctions 5 and 6 while firefighters tackled the blaze.

National Highways said shortly after 3am that two out of four lanes of the anti-clockwise carriageway had been reopened.

But it warned the clockwise carriageway is “likely to remain closed throughout the day”.

This is because specialist equipment is needed to remove the lorry, and the road is likely to require resurfacing.

There are “severe delays” of two-and-a-half hours, with four miles of congestion, National Highways warned.

A diversion involving A-roads is in place.

The incident has also closed the M26 westbound between Junction 2A and the M25/A21.

Meanwhile, a separate incident at the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex is also causing major congestion.

National Highways said the northbound Dartford east tunnel is closed because overnight roadworks overran after a maintenance vehicle broke down inside it, requiring emergency resurfacing works.

It said there is a “large spillage within the tunnel”, which will “remain closed throughout the day”.

The Government-owned company added that there are “severe delays on all approaches”, with seven miles of queuing traffic.