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| M25 section in Surrey collapses following roadworks | M25 section in Surrey collapses following roadworks |
| (23 minutes later) | |
| Three lanes of the M25 in Surrey have been closed after a section collapsed and left a large pothole, following overnight roadworks. | Three lanes of the M25 in Surrey have been closed after a section collapsed and left a large pothole, following overnight roadworks. |
| Surrey Police said many vehicles had been left with damaged tyres after the road surface near Leatherhead fell in during heavy rain at about 05:30 GMT. | Surrey Police said many vehicles had been left with damaged tyres after the road surface near Leatherhead fell in during heavy rain at about 05:30 GMT. |
| Highways workers had to clear concrete debris from the anti-clockwise carriageway near junction nine. | Highways workers had to clear concrete debris from the anti-clockwise carriageway near junction nine. |
| There are 90-minute delays, with queues back to junction 11 at Chertsey. | There are 90-minute delays, with queues back to junction 11 at Chertsey. |
| The sliproad at Junction 9 was closed earlier but has since reopened. | |
| A Highways Agency spokesman said: "We are trying to find out from the road contractor what is going on, but at the moment we just know there is a defect." | A Highways Agency spokesman said: "We are trying to find out from the road contractor what is going on, but at the moment we just know there is a defect." |
| Surrey Roads Police tweeted: "Not sure why it's failed but there were overnight repairs in that area last night." | Surrey Roads Police tweeted: "Not sure why it's failed but there were overnight repairs in that area last night." |
| They said delays were expected to last for many hours. | They said delays were expected to last for many hours. |
| Alex Goodwill tweeted: "Punctures galore thanks to pothole on M25 at Leatherhead". | Alex Goodwill tweeted: "Punctures galore thanks to pothole on M25 at Leatherhead". |
| Among the thousands caught up in travel chaos are those heading to Gatwick. The West Sussex airport is urging travellers to allow extra time for their journeys. | Among the thousands caught up in travel chaos are those heading to Gatwick. The West Sussex airport is urging travellers to allow extra time for their journeys. |
| One resident who lives beside the M25 said her family heard "very large, odd thuds, a bit like thunder at about 05:30. | One resident who lives beside the M25 said her family heard "very large, odd thuds, a bit like thunder at about 05:30. |
| "At one point our house was shaking and a piece of plaster fell out of the ceiling," she said. | "At one point our house was shaking and a piece of plaster fell out of the ceiling," she said. |
| "I don't know whether the thuds were the lorries hitting the hole or the road collapsing. | "I don't know whether the thuds were the lorries hitting the hole or the road collapsing. |
| "It doesn't look enormous, but it is causing chaos." | "It doesn't look enormous, but it is causing chaos." |
| 'Going nowhere' | 'Going nowhere' |
| A caller to BBC Surrey said she joined the M25 at Weybridge at 07:30 and by 10:45 had got as far as Cobham services. | A caller to BBC Surrey said she joined the M25 at Weybridge at 07:30 and by 10:45 had got as far as Cobham services. |
| "We're going nowhere fast," she said. | "We're going nowhere fast," she said. |
| "Nobody is giving any information about what is going on, which is no help." | "Nobody is giving any information about what is going on, which is no help." |
| BBC Surrey reporter Adrian Harms said several extra Highways Agency vehicles arrived on the scene at about 11:15. | |
| "There a lot more people on the motorway looking into the hole," he said. | "There a lot more people on the motorway looking into the hole," he said. |
| 'Road to hell' | 'Road to hell' |
| "The bad news is the queues are still horrendous. There is only one lane open past the scene." | "The bad news is the queues are still horrendous. There is only one lane open past the scene." |
| AA president Edmund King said: "The M25 really is the road to hell today. | AA president Edmund King said: "The M25 really is the road to hell today. |
| "There must be a thorough investigation into this incident. | "There must be a thorough investigation into this incident. |
| "It is disappointing that not only did the road fail, but it placed many drivers in danger and also reportedly damaged a number of vehicles. | "It is disappointing that not only did the road fail, but it placed many drivers in danger and also reportedly damaged a number of vehicles. |
| "If this happened on the railways, passengers could claim compensation. | "If this happened on the railways, passengers could claim compensation. |
| "As it has happened on the roads, drivers just have to put up with it." | "As it has happened on the roads, drivers just have to put up with it." |