A stretch of the M25 was closed for hours after a serious crash in Essex as torrential rain hit the area.
The UK’s busiest motorway was closed clockwise between J25 Cheshunt and J27 M11 between Herts and Essex after a serious collision involving a car and a motorcyclist at about 5.30pm.
Drivers were told to avoid the area near Epping as disruption was expected to last for hours before the road reopened.
Elsewhere, part of the M5 became flooded while roads in Wales were waterlogged after bad weather arrived in the UK.
Essex Police said: ‘The collision took place near the Bell Common tunnel.
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‘A road closure remains in place on the clockwise carriageway between Junction 25 and 27 while emergency services work at the scene.
‘Disruption is expected into this evening and drivers are urged to avoid the area if at all possible.’
Trapped traffic was released from the rear of the queues at about 8pm before all lanes reopened around an hour later.
National Highways said: ‘The M25 which borders Hertfordshire/Essex is closed clockwise between J25 (Waltham Cross) and J27 (M11) due to a multi vehicle collision involving a car and a motorcyclist.
‘Emergency services are in attendance. National Highways Traffic Officers are on scene to assist with traffic management.’
Inrix, which analyses traffic data, said in an alert: ‘Road closed and stationary traffic due to serious crash, a car and a motorcyclist involved on M25 clockwise from J25 A10 Great Cambridge Road (Enfield) to J27 M11 J6.’
Congestion is building up in the area, with queues beginning to stretch back towards junction J24 near Potters Bar.
M25 diversion route after the accident
Drivers should follow the hollow triangle symbol on local roads:
- From the M25 J25 exit slip roundabout take the 3rd exit onto A10 towards London.
- Follow the A10 to ‘Great Cambridge Junction’ and take the 1st exit onto the A406 ‘North Circular Road’ towards the M11, Walthamstow and Edmonton.
- At M11 junction 4 keep in the middle lane and then take the link road onto the M11 towards Cambridge.
- Take the exit at M11 junction 6, M25 junction 7 and bear right to rejoin the M25 towards the Dartford Crossing.
The crash comes as heavy downpours have hit London and the south this afternoon.
And the weather has more in store for the region tonight.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for strong winds, which is in place from 8pm tonight.
The forecaster said: ‘The winds will be strengthening this evening and into tomorrow with gusts up to 60-70 mph along exposed coasts.’
Drivers were told off yesterday after impatient motorists tried to turn around at a road closure during a medical emergency.
This meant that when the road was ready to open, traffic release was delayed for everyone because cars were ‘facing the wrong way,’ National Highways said.
Footage also showed several drivers stepping out of their vehicles and hanging out on the hard shoulder, a common sight during motorway closures, which is advised against as emergency vehicles might move past suddenly.
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