Rush hour gridlock following accident (From Warrington Guardian)

Rush hour gridlock following accident

COMMUTERS were faced with gridlock in mid Cheshire today, Wednesday, as Junction 18 of the M6 northbound was closed.

An HGV had swerved and overturned shortly after 10pm on Tuesday, spilling its load - believed to be car batteries - across all three lanes of the motorway.

Police have been working to clear the debris since the accident, but the motorway was still closed at 11am this morning.

Middlewich was grid locked with rush hour traffic, as motorists were diverted along the A54, A553 and A556 and back onto the M6 at Junction 19.

Northwich was also heavily affected by the diversions as commuters tried to avoid the problem area.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "The M6 Southbound between Junction 19 and 18 is now heavily congested, with traffic running at a slow pace.

"People are advised to avoid the area if possible.

"The diversion route on the A54, on to the A553 and A556 in Middlewich is grid locked."

Police were aiming to reopen one lane of the M6 northbound reopened by 11am.