THE southbound carriageway of the M6 in Cheshire has been closed since this afternoon, February 16, due to a fuel spillage.

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a crash involving two vehicles and a fuel tanker between junctions 17 at Sandbach and 16 at Crewe.

Officers closed the motorway southbound from junction 18 at Middlewich and Holmes Chapel, after fuel was leaked across the carriageway.

Police had also closed the northbound carriageway from junction 17 so that an air ambulance can land on the motorway, but one lane of traffic has since reopened shortly before 6pm.

On Twitter, a North West Motorway Police spokesman said: “The M6 junction 18 southbound remains closed due to the earlier road traffic collision of a large quantity of fuel spillage.

"The carriages way needs to be checked to ensure it is safe to open. An over bridge where the RTC occurred also needs to be checked."

A second crash has also taken place in the same area involving three vehicles, and all occupants have been taken to hospital by ambulance.

Recovery has been arranged for all vehicles involved, police say.