TAILBACKS have struck the Northwest following an accident on the M6.

Here's the lowdown on the traffic disruption.

Is the M6 closed?

All traffic was being held on the M6 Southbound after a lorry and two cars were involved in a collision.

The fire service, Highways England and the ambulance service were called to the motorway just before 11am.

It was shut Southbound between junction 19, for Chester Road, and junction 18 for Holmes Chapel. It reopened later in the afternoon.

What caused the crash?

A major crash closed the M6 near Greater Manchester and sparked five miles of traffic chaos.

Images showed children playing in the road as drivers and passengers set up picnic chairs outside their vehicles.

After emergency services left the scene, cops remained to investigate

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When will junctions 18 and 19 reopen?

All lanes southbound at junctions 18 and 19 are currently closed but were reopened by the late afternoon.

There are plans to allow trapped traffic to turn around and a diversion is in place.

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