M11 shut after major pile-up

A major motorway was brought to a standstill this morning after a "serious" multi-vehicle collision involving a coach, police said.

The crash - which involved four lorries, four cars and the coach - occurred on the M11, Essex Police said.

A spokesman said the collision happened between junction eight for Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire and junction nine at Great Chesterford, near to Saffron Walden in Essex.

He said the northbound carriageway was closed and was expected to remain shut for several hours. The southbound carriageway was only open on the hard shoulder.

An ambulance service spokesman said two passengers on the coach suffered fractured legs.

He said the patients, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, were taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

The male coach driver was uninjured, he added.

A man and a woman in separate cars were also taken to hospital suffering from minor neck and back injuries.

Officers are appealing for anyone who has information about the incident to contact them.

An ambulance service spokesman said two passengers on the coach suffered fractured legs.

He said the patients, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, were taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridgeshire.

The male coach driver was uninjured, he added.

A man and a woman in separate cars were also taken to hospital suffering from minor neck and back injuries.

Police said it was expected that the northbound carriageway would remain shut for several hours while investigations took place.

Officers are appealing for anyone who has information about the incident to contact them.

Chief Inspector Scott Egerton urged motorists to find alternative routes during rush hour.

He said: "All agencies are working hard to have the carriageways open as quickly as possible but some lanes may remain closed for repairs to the road surface and the central reservation barrier.

"There are still lengthy delays in both directions and we would urge drivers to seek alternative routes, especially through the evening rush hour."

A police spokesman said the northbound carriageway is due to reopen within the next two hours and some lanes on the southbound carriageway are expected to reopen soon.