Motorway shut after crashes

Traffic was diverted away from the M6 motorway

A stretch of one of the UK's busiest motorway was closed after crashes, involving 40 vehicles, brought traffic to a standstill.

Two people were taken to hospital as a result of the collisions, which led to police shutting part of the northbound carriageway of the M6 in Cheshire.

A police spokeswoman said diversions were in place following "two serious road traffic collisions" north of junction 16 on the Staffordshire border on Saturday.

Motorists are being forced to leave the motorway at junction 16 before being allowed to rejoin the carriageway at junction 17 - Sandbach.

"Our advice to motorists in the area is to avoid that part of the M6 and find an alternative route," the Cheshire Constabulary spokeswoman added.