Cheshire tanker crash: M6 closed after 'major incident' Published duration 8 September 2017

image copyright Highways England image caption About 18,000 litres of liquid leaked from the tanker

The M6 motorway was closed in both directions after a crash involving a tanker and flatbed lorry in Cheshire.

About 18,000 litres of a possibly corrosive liquid spilled on to the northbound carriageway between junction 18 for Holmes Chapel and junction 19 for Knutsford.

Firefighters in gas-tight suits were called in to try to contain the "major incident", Cheshire Fire Service said.

Both carriageways have now reopened, the service said.

Two people were injured in the crash, which happened at 13:13 BST. Their injuries were not said to be serious.

Firefighters described the liquid as chemical waste mixed with a large quantity of water.

The fire service said two people had to be decontaminated, but it could not confirm whether they were the two injured people.

A spokeswoman said a scientist from chemical management company Bureau Veritas was flown by police helicopter from Hawarden, north Wales, to identify the chemical and how to treat it.

Vehicles close to the tanker were evacuated as a precaution and have been recovered.

image copyright @CheshireCVU image caption Chemical experts were called in to identify the spillage

image copyright Cheshire Fire Service image caption Drivers were told to avoid all but essential travel