The M56 has been shut in both directions after a lorry crashed through the central reservation.

Emergency services were called to the collision, between J10 for Stretton and J9 for the M6, near Warrington, at around 4.10pm.

The air ambulance is also in attendance.

It's understood multiple vehicles were also involved, and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

Traffic is already starting to build up.

We will be bringing you live updates here.

Resurfacing work carried out overnight

The motorway was closed westbound overnight for repairs to be carried out, following a crash last night.

All lanes are now reopen.

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Motorway is now reopen

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Good night

We’re putting our live coverage of the problems on the M56 on pause for the night. We’ll be back in the morning, and will be covering the situation both back here, and on the live Breaking News blog on our homepage.

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Police thank drivers

Police chiefs have thanked drivers affected by tonight’s delays

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Manchester=bound carriageway to re-open

The motorway is due to re-open eastbound, heading into Manchester, tonight with just lanes to be re-opened.

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One carriageway to remain closed overnight

One side of the motorway will remain shut overnight whilst the road is re-surfaced police have just confirmed.

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Large oil spill delaying reopening

Highways England said the crash has resulted in a large oil spillage.
It has to be cleaned up before the motorway can be safely reopened.
The motorway currently remains closed between junctions nine and 10.
Diversions - indicated by black triangle and hollow square symbols - are in force.
Highways England said: “Road users are advised to allow extra time to complete their journeys if heading in this direction, or consider alternative routes.”
Trapped traffic is still being released.

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Lots of Justin Bieber fans stuck in traffic

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'Stay in your vehicles'

Motorists being urged to stay ion their vehicles and not use the hard shoulder

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Kick-off delayed

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'Severe delays'

In a traffic update, police said ‘severe delays’ remain.
Congestion eastbound is back to Runcorn and westbound, back to the Hale Four Seasons Roundabout.
Trapped traffic is now being released and diversions have been agreed.
Westbound traffic should follow black triangle symbols via the M6 northbound to junction 20, the A50 westbound, the B5356 westbound and the A49 southbound to rejoin the M56.
The diversion for eastbound traffic is vice versa, but using the hollow square symbol.

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Motorists urged to find alternative routes

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Barriers being cut to free traffic

Barriers being cut to free trapped westbound traffic. Vehicles are being sent back to junction 11, eastbound.

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Traffic backed up the airport

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Travel times

Police say it could be two hours travelling time between J12 and J9.

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Latest from police

Emergency services remain at the scene of a collision involving a number of vehicles on the M56 in Cheshire.

At 4.09pm police received reports of a collision involving two lorries and three cars between junctions 9 and 10.

Two people have been taken to hospital with injuries, which are not thought to be serious at this stage.

Trapped traffic on both the east bound and west bound carriageway is in the process of being released.

However, the road is likely to remain closed for some time due to damage to the carriageway and drivers are advised to avoid the area. Diversions are in place.

Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is urged to call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 626 of 21st October.

Follow our social media channels for further updates.

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View from traffic camera

Here’s the current view at Junction 9 (M6/Lymm). You can see some people are still out of their vehicles.

Traffic at a standstill by J9 of the M56 at 6.10pm
Traffic at a standstill by J9 of the M56 at 6.10pm
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No life-threatening injuries

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said no one is believed to have been critically injured in the collision.

It’s unclear how many casualties were involved, or how many have been taken to hospital, but it’s understood most have sustained minor injuries.

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Delays expected until 9.30pm

Highways England have issued an update with regards to the crash.
They have confirmed that a HGV has crossed the central reservation.
Highways England said motorists are stuck in queuing traffic with delays of more than an hour.
Normal traffic conditions are not expected to resume until 9.30pm.

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Video from the scene

Here’s a video taken earlier by one witness of the air ambulance landing at the scene.

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Motorway will be closed for hours

Cheshire Police say the M56 will remain shut as emergency services and repair teams deal with the multi-vehicle collision.

A spokesman for the force said some traffic currently stuck on the carriageway is being allowed to pass the scene, but there is a large spillage which needs to be cleaned up before it can reopen.

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Hundreds stuck in queues

Hundreds of people are believed to be stuck on the M56 because of the closure.

Reports coming in that some traffic is being diverted onto the M6.

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No entry from M6

This is where the crash happened. Entry to the M56 from the M6 is also shut in both directions.

Scene of the multi-vehicle crash on the M56 near its junction with the M6
Scene of the multi-vehicle crash on the M56 near its junction with the M6
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Fire crews ‘assisting paramedics with casualties’

Firefighters have now removed a man who was trapped in the wreckage of one of the HGVs involved in the smash.
Fire crews are also said to be ‘assisting paramedics with casualties’.
There’s been no word as yet on injuries sustained.

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Traffic building up

Traffic is now at a standstill between Junction 12 for Runcorn and Junction 7 for Altrincham.

M56 Junction 11 Daresbury at 5pm
M56 Junction 11 Daresbury at 5pm
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More pictures from the scene

Here are some more images from the scene of the crash.

A lorry has crashed through the central reservation on the M56 between Junctions 9 and 10
A lorry has crashed through the central reservation on the M56 between Junctions 9 and 10
A lorry has crashed through the central reservation on the M56 between Junctions 9 and 10
A lorry has crashed through the central reservation on the M56 between Junctions 9 and 10
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Two HGVs and three cars involved in crash

In an update, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said they believe the crash involves two HGVs and three cars.
A spokesman said it’s believed that one man remains trapped in one of the HGVs involved.

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Statement from police

Cheshire Police have issued the following statement on the crash.

Emergency services are currently dealing with a collision involving a number of vehicles on the M56 in Cheshire.

The motorway is currently closed in both directions between junctions 9 and 10. Drivers are advised to avoid the area and diversions are in place.

Follow our social media channels for further updates.

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Traffic building

Traffic building on M56 following crash
Traffic building on M56 following crash
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Stay in your cars, say police

Motorists are being told to stay in their vehicles.

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