The M6 northbound is closed in Cheshire this afternoon (Thursday, May 17) following a serious collision involving four lorries.

Highways England reports all lanes blocked from junction 18 to 19, between Middlewich and Knutsford.

It tweeted: "Emergency services are working at the scene. Long delays on the approach. Please allow plenty of extra time or use an alternative route, if possible."

The agency said the carriageway may have to be fully closed to allow the air ambulance to land.

Severe delays remain in area

All lanes have now reopened however severe delays remain on the motorway, while congestion clears, and the surrounding diversion routes.

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All lanes now open

All lanes have now reopened on the M6.

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M6 lane closures being removed

Lane closures are now being removed on the M6 northbound between junction 18 and junction 19.

It is expected to be fully open shortly.

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Congestion on M6 and surrounding roads

There are still severe delays on the M6 northbound and the surrounding routes following the earlier collision.

The motorway remains closed at junction 18.

Police have asked drivers to avoid the area if possible and delay any non-essential journeys.

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'Please avoid area'

If you are heading north through this stretch of the the M6 in the next few hours it may be worth finding an alternative route.

Police are asking motorists to avoid the area if possible as trapped traffic continues to be released.

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Trapped traffic still being released

Traffic trapped between the scene of the crash and junction 18 is still be released using lane three.

The motorway remains closed northbound at junction 18.

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Pictures from M6

Cheshire Police have posted pictures from the scene of today’s crash on social media.

They show the teams and kit involved in releasing the man who was trapped following the crash.

He was airlifted to Aintree Hospital.

(Image: @Cheshire_CVU/ Cheshire Police)
(Image: @Cheshire_CVU/ Cheshire Police)
(Image: @Cheshire_CVU/ Cheshire Police)
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Highways England update

Here is the latest update from Highways England:

The M6 in Cheshire is closed northbound between J18 (Middlewich / Holmes Chapel) and J19 (Knutsford) due to a serious collision involving four Lorries. North West Motorway Police are on scene with fire and rescue, ambulance services and Highways England traffic officers.

Traffic is being diverted and should follow the hollow triangle symbol. Exit the M6 at J18 and at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A54 westbound towards Middlewich. Join the B5309 Centurion Way travelling north and follow until the road becomes the A530. At the roundabout with the A530/A556 take the 3rd exit and follow the A556 to re-join the M6 at J19.

Severe delays of approximately 90 minutes are now being measured on the approach to the closure.

Please allow additional travelling time if heading towards the area this afternoon.

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Long delays both directions

There are delays of around 45 minutes on southbound M6 with congestion back to the Lymm Interchange.

The northbound motorway remains closed at junction 18 northbound, with drivers having to come off and use the hollow triangle symbol diversion. Drivers heading north face delays of around 90 minutes with queues from junction 16.

Trapped traffic is now able to get past the scene of the crash using lane three.

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'Please seek an alternative route'

Motorists are being urged to seek an alternative route - despite one lane now being open.

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Diversion details

Here is a reminder of the diversion details for those stuck on the northbound M6.

Traffic is being diverted and should follow the hollow triangle symbol.

Exit the M6 at J18 and at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A54 westbound towards Middlewich.

Join the B5309 Centurion Way travelling north and follow until the road becomes the A530.

At the roundabout with the A530/A556 take the 3rd exit and follow the A556 to re-join the M6 at J19.

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Lane three now open for trapped traffic

Motorists stuck between the scene of the crash and junction 19 should now be moving shortly.

Lane three has been reopened.

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One lane due to be reopened shortly

Lane three of the northbound M6, between junctions 18 and 19, is due to be reopened shortly to release trapped traffic.

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Man has been airlifted to hospital

Cheshire Fire say one male casualty has been released and treated by on scene doctors and paramedics.

He has now been airlifted to Aintree Hospital.

The northbound M6 remains closed.

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Southbound M6 now reopen - northbound still closed

The southbound M6 has now reopened. The motorway remains closed northbound. A police spokesperson said:

The southbound carriageway has now reopened, although there are still delays in the area.

The northbound carriageway remains closed from junction 18 to 19 at the current time. Crews are working hard to reopen the road as soon as possible.

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Crews still trying to free trapped casualty

The fire service say crews are still trying to remove a casualty trapped in one of the vehicles. A Cheshire Fire spokesperson said:

All three lanes are closed northbound while the incident is being dealt with. Southbound is also closed to allow the air ambulance to land and take the casualty to hospital.

Fire service doctor and air ambulance crews are currently working to remove the casualty from one of the vehicles.

The collision involves four vehicles one of which is a tanker carrying 27 tonnes of flour that has not been affected by the collision. It is believed none of the vehicles are carrying hazardous substances.

The NWAS HART team are also in attendance with Highways England and police.

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Trapped traffic hoping to be released soon

There is a lot of traffic currently stuck between junction 18 and the scene of the crash on the northbound carriageway.

Highways England said they will work to release trapped motorists as soon as possible.

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M6 now closed in both directions

The M6 has now been closed in both directions to allow the air ambulance to land.

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Police confirm four lorries involved

Cheshire Police have confirmed that four lorries were involved in the crash. Police initially said the collision involved two HGVs. A spokesperson said:

At 12.32pm police were called to reports of a collision the M6 northbound between junctions 18, Holmes Chapel, and 19, Knutsford.

The incident has taken place near to the slip road for Knut ford Service station and involves four HGVs.

One person is currently trapped in a vehicle and Fire crews are currently working to release him.

As a result of the incident the M6 is currently closed northbound between junctions 18 and 19.

The southbound carriageway will also be closing for a short period of time to allow North West Air Ambulance to land at the scene.

Local diversions are in place, but there are severe delay and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

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Twelve miles of queues

There are still five miles of stuck traffic northbound between junction 18, which is closed, and the scene of the crash.

Vehicles are also queuing for seven miles from just before junction 16 an junction 18.

There is also congestion southbound past the scene of the crash.

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Diversion details

Traffic is being diverted and should follow the hollow triangle symbol.

Exit the M6 at J18 and at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A54 westbound towards Middlewich.

Join the B5309 Centurion Way travelling north and follow until the road becomes the A530.

At the roundabout with the A530/A556 take the 3rd exit and follow the A556 to re-join the M6 at J19.

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North West Ambulance Service 'have sent a number of resources to the scene'

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said:

We received a call at 12.30pm.

We have sent quite a number of resources to the scene. We have sent an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and four hazardous area response team vehicles, as well as the air ambulance.

There are no details of injuries yet.

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Casualty trapped

One fire engine attended from Congleton is currently at the scene of the crash. A spokesperson for Cheshire Fire said:

Firefighters are currently dealing with a collision involving two HGVs on the M6 northbound between junction 18 and 19.

One casualty is trapped and firefighters are working to free him.

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Ten miles of queues on M6

Traffic is currently queuing five miles northbound between junctions 18 and 19, which is currently closed.

Queues also stretch back a further five miles towards junction 18, where traffic is coming off.

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Air ambulance en-route

The air ambulance is currently on the way to the scene.

The nature of any injuries is not yet known.

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'Please allow extra time'

All lanes are currently blocked northbound while emergency services deal with the crash.

Motorists are being warned to expect delays.

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M6 closed northbound due to lorry crash

A section of the M6 is shut following a collision involving two lorries.

It is believed one of the drivers could be trapped inside one of the vehicles following the smash which took place just before junction 19, for Knutsford, at 12.30pm this afternoon.

Highways England have closed the motorway northbound between junction 19 and junction 18, for Holmes Chapel, while the air ambulance lands at the scene.

The collision took place near to the services on junction 19 and within the smart motorway works.

Drivers are being warned of long delays on approach.

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