Bypass call after gridlock

Business leaders are making fresh calls for a ring road around Stafford after a motorway crash caused gridlock in the town.

One woman died and four other people were injured after a car collided with a lorry at 0330 BST on Thursday between junctions 13 and 14 on the M6.

The motorway was closed for five hours and traffic was diverted from junction 14.

Traffic in Stafford was brought to a standstill in the early morning rush hour.

'Effect on business'

Plans for a bypass were rejected by a Government inspector in the mid 1990s, but the latest problems to hit the town have restored it to the political agenda.

Stafford Chamber of Commerce leader Lorna Green said: "I think we need an orbital road around the town centre.

"We want people to come in that are shoppers. But if it's gridlock and we can't get items into our shops then it will have an effect on business."

The M6 crash happened after a car veered across the carriageway and hit the crash barrier before rolling over and hitting a lorry.