Two die in motorway crash

The motorway was closed while wreckage was cleared

Two lorry drivers were killed and four others injured in a motorway pile-up involving six heavy goods vehicles.

Traffic was in chaos during Tuesday morning's rush hour following the accident on the M1 near Northampton, police said.

The southbound stretch of the motorway - between Junction 16 near Daventry and the A5 Rugby exit at Junction 18 - was closed while emergency services cleared the wreckage.

Police said six lorries, all travelling southbound, were involved in the collision at 0450 BST.

Two lorry drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Four other motorists, all men, were injured.

One was taken to Northampton General Hospital with serious injuries, another was taken to the same hospital with slight injuries and the other two men did not need hospital treatment.

Police said traffic was slow on the northbound section of the M1 and on the roads around the A45 in Northamptonshire.

The M45, which was closed at the junction with the M1 was re-opened just after 1100 BST.

Drivers were warned to avoid the area while the wreckage was cleared.