All southbound lanes of the M1 have been closed in Leicestershire after a serious collision near Lutterworth.
The southbound carriageway is completely closed between Catthorpe Interchange at junction 19 and junction 18 for Daventry.
Traffic reaching the Catthorpe Interchange from the M6 and the southbound M1 is being diverted.
Queues are beginning to build and depending on the seriousness of the incident the road could remain closed while the police carry out an examination of the scene.
Highways England tweeted at about 7.40pm this evening that the road was closed due to a “serious accident”.
They said: “#M1 J19 - J18 southbound, ROAD CLOSED due to serious accident, also the link road from the #M6 south to M1 south at #Catthorpe is closed. We'll update you shortly.”
Traffic and travel - what you need to know
Further updates will appear below.
Key Events
Trapped traffic has now been released
Highways England just tweeted to say the vehicles stuck between junction 19 and the scene of the crash have now been released.
Trapped traffic #M1 southbound J19 - J18 now cleared.. Thank you.... if you're heading towards this area #Northamptonshire, diversions in operation.. details here: https://t.co/GWlKC3628b #Crick #Catthorpe pic.twitter.com/5B9ZweVEw5
— Highways England (@HighwaysWMIDS) October 3, 2018
Police release statement but no further details on casualties
Northamptonshire Police have released a statement that said: “We are currently dealing with a serious collision on the M1 and a number of road closures have been put in place.
“The southbound carriageway is shut at junction 19 with traffic being diverted to the A14. The northbound carriageway is open but speed restrictions are in place. The eastbound carriageway of the M6 is also shut at junction 1.
“Motorists are advised to avoid the area as the closures will be in place for some time. Thank you for your patience.”
Highways England issues new advice for people heading south - leave at junction 20
Motorists heading south on the M1 are being advised to leave a junction early to avoid the delays.
Highways England said the best diversion was to get off at junction 20 at Lutterworth and take the A4303 west to join the A5 near Magna Park, and then follow the A5 south to rejoin the motorway at junction 18.
Highways England officers planning to release vehicles stuck behind crash scene
Highways England has tweeted to reassure people stuck on the southbound lane between Catthorpe Interchange and the scene of the crash that they were planning to start releasing traffic shortly.
The M1 and M6 traffic is being diverted east onto the A14.
Trapped traffic held in the #M1 southbound road closure J19 - J18, we plan to release you in the outside lane shortly... thanks for your patience
— Highways England (@HighwaysEMIDS) October 3, 2018Police warning motorists to find an alternative route
Leicestershire Police have issued this tweet about the crash:
TRAFFIC UPDATE @ 20:06. 1 mile before Junction 18 of the M1 southbound carriageway there has been a road traffic collision. Expect delays and take an alternative route if possible. Updates will follow
— LeicestershirePolice (@leicspolice) October 3, 2018
Queues forming on M6 and M1 due to crash
Google Maps, which uses location data from mobile phones, shows crawling traffic (in red) on both motorways.
Motorway expected to remained closed until at least 10pm
According to the Motorway Cameras website the closure is expected to be in place for at least two hours.
In its summary of the crash the website said: “All lanes are closed. Normal traffic conditions are expected between 22:00 and 22:15 on 3 October 2018.”
