M60 blocked after Asda lorry catches fire

The M60 was blocked for hours on Friday after a lorry caught fire. Photos showed huge plumes of smoke and flames coming from the Asda delivery lorry, which was ablaze on the anti-clockwise carriageway. The motorway was blocked for several hours on Friday, with huge delays in the area after the incident at around 2.45pm.

Thankfully nobody was injured in the blaze, Asda confirmed. The incident happened at junction 3 on the motorway, for Kingsway. The closure caused huge tailbacks throughout Friday evening rush hour, with delays of over an hour.

As of 10.45pm, two lanes are still shut. Motorists are being warned to avoid the area.

At 10.45pm, travel service Inrix said: "Two lanes closed due to recovery work and earlier lorry fire on M60 anticlockwise at J3 A34 Kingsway." Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At around 2.40pm today (Friday January 12) eight fire engines from Withington[1], Whitehill, Wythenshawe[2], Cheadle, Stockport, Moss Side[3], Gorton[4] and Altrincham[5] fire stations attended a large goods vehicle on fire near to junction three of the M60 motorway.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels to extinguish the fire and make the scene safe." An Asda[6] spokesperson said whilst the emergency response was ongoing: "We are aware of an incident involving one of our vehicles on the M60 around Manchester. "We are pleased that nobody is injured and emergency services have now attended the site."

This is a live incident.

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References

1. ^ Withington (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ Wythenshawe (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Moss Side (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ Gorton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Altrincham (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ Asda (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)