London travel news LIVE: M25 chaos as 'multi-vehicle' crash near Dartford Crossing sparks 8-mile tailback

Severe delays are being reported across the Dartford Crossing due to a multi-vehicle crash on the M25 (PA Archive)
Severe delays are being reported across the Dartford Crossing due to a multi-vehicle crash on the M25 (PA Archive)

Motorists are facing severe delays on the M25 due to two separate crashes on Friday afternoon.

A multi-vehicle crash at Junction 1B has caused traffic travelling clockwise to stack up for 8 miles either side of the Dartford Crossing.

Two lanes are closed following the crash involving “several vehicles”, according to traffic monitor Inrix.com.

Meanwhile three lanes have been shut due to a crash on the M25 clockwise between Junction 16 and Junction 17, causing a five-mile tailback.

Follow the latest developments below...

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20:42 , Jacob Phillips

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Elizabeth line running at reduced speed

20:15 , Jacob Phillips

A fault with the signalling system between Romford and Gidea Park means trains on the Elizabeth line have to run at reduced speed on some lines.

Minor delays on Central Line due to faulty train

17:10 , Jacob Phillips

There are minor delays on the Central Line between Hainault and Woodford while Transport for London fix a faulty train.

There is a good service across the rest of the tube network.

Trains to Liverpool Street hit by 20 minute delays

15:15 , Jacob Phillips

A fault at Tottenham Hale is causing delays to Liverpool Street services.

An issue with the signalling system near the north London station means trains have to run at a reduced speed on some lines.

Trains are expected to be delayed by 20 minutes until 4.30pm.

All lanes reopen on Dartford Crossing

14:56

All lanes have reopened near the Dartford Crossing between Junction 1A and Junction 1B following the earlier multi-vehicle collision.

There is still approximately eight miles of congestion causing hour long delays, National Highways said.

Vehicle fire creates long delays on M3

14:49 , Jacob Phillips

Severe delays have built on the M3 near south-west London due to a vehicle fire.

Two lanes of the busy route have been shut on the M3 Southbound from J3 A322 (Lightwater / Bagshot) to J4 A331 Blackwater Valley Route (Camberley).

Travel Data site Inrix reports that traffic was held for around 15 minutes, adding that lane one and two (of four) are closed.

Crash near Dartford Crossing causing severe delays on the M25

14:42 , Jacob Phillips

A multi-vehicle crash near the Dartford Crossing is causing severe delays on the M25.

Several vehicles were involved in the crash on the busy motorway clockwise near Junction 1B A296 Princes Road (Dartford).

Congestion has built up to Junction 30 (Lakeside / Purfleet).

There is around 8 miles of traffic stretched over either side of the Dartford Crossing.