This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-33854932
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Propane tanker fire shuts M56 motorway near Chester | Propane tanker fire shuts M56 motorway near Chester |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A blaze that started when a tanker carrying propane gas caught fire led to the M56 being shut near Chester for six hours, causing traffic gridlock. | |
The blaze broke out at 15:00 BST on the westbound carriageway and was brought under control by firefighters by 21:00 BST on Monday. | |
The motorway was closed in both directions between junctions 12 and 15 and reopened in the early hours. | |
Many road closures have been lifted and a 1,600m cordon has been reduced. | |
Police 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. |