Four dead in M40 crash

Fire crews worked to remove the crash vehicles

The M40 motorway in Warwickshire has re-opened after four people died in a crash there on Friday morning.

The incident involved two lorries and a van - two of the vehicles burst into flames following the collision.

It is believed a lorry crashed through the central reservation.

Two lanes of the southbound carriageway have re-opened between junctions 15 and 11.

The vehicles were badly damaged by fire

A police spokeswoman said: "It appears a lorry crossed over the central reservation onto the opposite carriageway."

BBC reporter Jillian Moody at the scene said: "At the height of the incident there were 35 firefighters attending."

All southbound cars were taken off the motorway.

Police said they were looking into reports of explosions at the scene of the crash.

"We are investigating, but I suspect that it is nothing more suspicious than pressurised tyres exploding due to the heat of the fire," said a police spokesman.