M25 delays: Crane overturns on motorway, causing huge tailbacks

Stationary traffic queued for 10 miles following drama during Friday rush-hour

A crane crashed down onto the M25 motorway (Highways England)

The M25 motorway has partially reopened in both directions more than 12 hours after a crane overturned and crashed across both sides of the carriageway.

The incident happened at Junction 27 where the highway - which circles London - meets the M11 in Essex. It occurred just as rush-hour was kicking in at 4.45pm on Friday.

It caused huge tailbacks in both directions, including 10 miles of stationary traffic on the clockwise carriageway.

But Highways England said on Saturday morning that, following overnight clearance of debris and resurfacing, the clockwise carriage was reopened at 4am and the anti-clockwise route three hours later.

The two inside lanes of both carriageways remain closed, it added, “while the central reservation is repaired".

Earlier, Essex Police confirmed that no-one had been seriously injured during the drama but that blocks of concrete had been scattered across the motorway, making it impossible for cars to pass.

Pictures shared on social media showed an unknown liquid coming from the vehicle and covering parts of the road.