Motorists traveling on the M6 this morning are being warned of a closure in place after a lorry hit a motorway bridge.

Traffic was stopped at around 6am after the collision.

Diversions are in place as National Highways North West says the closure on the southbound carriageway will be in place for sometime.

The crash has taken place between Junction 17 and 16 between Sandbach and Crewe.

The lorry struck a bridge and has split its load across all lanes of the carriageway.

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The Bolton News: The crash on the M6

A National Highways spokesperson said: "Emergency services including the North West Motorway Police Group are in attendance. National Highways Traffic Officers are also on scene providing assistance with traffic management.

"A lengthy clean-up and recovery progress will be ongoing throughout the morning."

Motorists have been given advice as to how to get past the closure.

The Bolton News: The lorry has spilt its load

Those travelling south are advised to leave the M6 at Junction 17, turn right at the end of the slip road onto the A534, follow this towards Crewe, at the Crewe Green Roundabout take the second exit onto A5020 University Way, follow this onto David Whitby Way, take the A500 fist exit at the Weston Gate Roundabout, follow the A500 Shavington Bypass east to Alsager Road, head to the M6 Junction 16 and then rejoin there.

A spokesman for North West Motorway Police said: "The closure on the M6 Between J17 - J16 is likely to be in place for the rest of the morning to allow for recovery, clean up & structural engineers to assess the damage to the bridge."There is a queue of more than four miles going towards where the crash took place.