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| Propane tanker fire shuts M56 motorway near Chester | Propane tanker fire shuts M56 motorway near Chester |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A tanker carrying propane gas caught fire, shutting the M56 motorway near Chester and leading to traffic gridlock. | A tanker carrying propane gas caught fire, shutting the M56 motorway near Chester and leading to traffic gridlock. |
| Firefighters have now brought the blaze under control, which broke out at 15:00 BST on the westbound carriageway. | Firefighters have now brought the blaze under control, which broke out at 15:00 BST on the westbound carriageway. |
| The motorway remains closed in both directions between junctions 12 and 15 near Stanlow and Frodsham. | The motorway remains closed in both directions between junctions 12 and 15 near Stanlow and Frodsham. |
| Many of the surrounding road closures have now been lifted and the 1,600m cordon has been reduced. | Many of the surrounding road closures have now been lifted and the 1,600m cordon has been reduced. |
| The force said it had removed the motorway's central reservation so motorists could turn around and get off the motorway. | The force said it had removed the motorway's central reservation so motorists could turn around and get off the motorway. |
| Tom Jackson, who was stuck on the motorway, said: "I was about 20 cars back and we just saw the traffic start to slow and then come to a complete standstill. | Tom Jackson, who was stuck on the motorway, said: "I was about 20 cars back and we just saw the traffic start to slow and then come to a complete standstill. |
| "A huge plume of black smoke and then two small explosions, that may have been tyres, then there was a huge one which was like a giant bunsen burner going off way up into the sky." | "A huge plume of black smoke and then two small explosions, that may have been tyres, then there was a huge one which was like a giant bunsen burner going off way up into the sky." |
| Five fire engines attended the scene and worked with both the police helicopter unit to check the tanker's temperature and specialist staff from the tanker company. | Five fire engines attended the scene and worked with both the police helicopter unit to check the tanker's temperature and specialist staff from the tanker company. |
| Air traffic controllers were also advised of the incident to ensure flights at Liverpool and Manchester airports avoided any smoke. | Air traffic controllers were also advised of the incident to ensure flights at Liverpool and Manchester airports avoided any smoke. |
| The tanker caught fire on the hard shoulder of the M56 at junction 14, a few miles from Ellesmere Port. | The tanker caught fire on the hard shoulder of the M56 at junction 14, a few miles from Ellesmere Port. |
| The Manchester to Chester railway line has reopened but the line between Helsby and Hooton remains closed. | The Manchester to Chester railway line has reopened but the line between Helsby and Hooton remains closed. |
| Earlier, stretches of the M56 became gridlocked, with traffic backing up as far as Liverpool, with a knock-on effect into north Wales. | Earlier, stretches of the M56 became gridlocked, with traffic backing up as far as Liverpool, with a knock-on effect into north Wales. |
| Photos posted on Twitter showed motorists leaving their vehicles to sunbathe or play football on the opposite side of the carriageway, which was empty of traffic. | Photos posted on Twitter showed motorists leaving their vehicles to sunbathe or play football on the opposite side of the carriageway, which was empty of traffic. |