Emergency services have issued an urgent warning to drivers this morning following a huge lorry fire which has shut the busy M25 motorway during rush hour.
The M25 in Essex is closed anti-clockwise between J27 (M11) and J26 (Waltham Abbey) due to a fire impacting a heavy goods vehicle.
National Highways first reported the fire just after 3am this morning, with the vehicle being described as "well alight".
Emergency services are in attendance, with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service leading the response.
Traffic officers from National Highways are managing the congestion behind the blaze and will continue to provide updates.
The road has been closed due to the intensity of the fire, with the aim of allowing fire crews to safely extinguish the fire and manage the scene.
Fire crews will continue to extinguish the blaze to ensure the vehicle is safe before recovery can begin.
Once the fire is contained and extinguished, specialist recovery will be required to remove the heavy goods vehicle.
Teams will then conduct inspections of the carriageway and infrastructure to check for any fire-related damage.
National Highways has warned that repairs or clean-up may be needed before the road can reopen.
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However, there is no current timetable available for a reopening time, with the closure likely to remain in place into the morning peak.
National Highways said: "If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."
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