FOUR people were killed in a six-vehicle pile-up on the M6 motorway.

The accident -- which caused traffic chaos -- happened between Keele services and Junction 16, near the Staffordshire and Cheshire border, at 11.40am yesterday.

Central Motorway Police said the crash involved four cars, a van and a lorry.

Four people were killed but police were unable to confirm any more details.

A spokesman said: "A heavy goods vehicle, which was travelling southbound, breached the central barrier and collided with cars travelling in the other direction."

Both carriageways of the motorway were closed until the crash scene was cleared and all traffic was diverted.