A MOTORWAY slip road was closed by a fire this morning.

The M56 eastbound to M6 northbound link road at Lymm was shut due to four vehicles catching fire shortly before 8.15am.

A transporter, two cars it was carrying and another van it was towing were all ablaze, but the fire has now been extinguished.

One lane of the sliproad was reopened shortly after 9.15am, with the second opened again at around 11.30am.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service dispatched three engines to the scene, with fuel also having spilled onto the road.

Tailbacks to junction 10 of the M56 at Stretton were reported.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: "Officers from Cheshire Police are currently in attendance at the scene of a fire at the M56 junction nine at the Lymm interchange.

"As a result of the incident, lane closures are currently in place at the eastbound slip road off the M56 onto the M6.

"There are long delays and drivers are advised to avoid the area where possible - there are no reports of any injuries at the current time."