A large section of the M6 has been closed in both directions after a tanker crashed and overturned – causing an “extensive” milk spillage on the motorway.

The truck hit the central reservation while travelling northbound at around 7am today in Lancashire. The incident led to severe delays of up to two hours for motorists.

A male driver and a female passenger in the vehicle were taken to hospital for treatment.

Some 20,000 litres of milk were reportedly spilled across all lanes on the northbound carriageway and there was also a diesel spillage on the southbound carriageway.

As a result, the M6 was shut in both directions between junction 31 and junction 33 northbound and junction 31 and junction 32 southbound near Lancaster.

The M6 junction 3a and junction 31 entry slips and the link road from the M55 eastbound to the M6 junction 32 southbound were also closed, according to National Highways.

National Highways said there were severe delays of 90 minutes above normal travel time if motorists head southbound and 60 minutes northbound.

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Chief Inspector Patrick Worden, of Lancashire Police, said: “At this time we expect the motorway to be closed for some if not most of the day.

“The tanker needs to be recovered and due to the large scale milk and diesel spillage, the motorway surface treated appropriately.

“We expect this to cause significant delays and I would advise motorists to make plans for alternate routes.

“We will update you with more information as and when appropriate.”

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There were also severe delays of 120 minutes on the M55 eastbound between J3 and J1 and 60 minutes on the M61 northbound between J9 and M6.

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