A lorry fire has been causing traffic chaos on the M25 since yesterday evening.

Drivers travelling anticlockwise in Hertfordshire, heading towards Heathrow Airport, were being advised to allow extra time for journeys this morning after a lorry came off the motorway and caught fire just after 7.30pm yesterday (Tuesday).

One lane is closed due to barrier repairs at J17 A412 (Maple Cross) and there is congestion to J18 A404 (Chorleywood).

Highways England said the lane is expected to stay closed until at least 10pm tonight, which could cause congestion during the evening rush hour.

The entire carriageway was closed from 8pm yesterday until 4.15 this morning, with the clockwise carriageway reopening at 9pm yesterday. Lanes two, three and four reopened at 4.35am.

Highways England said thankfully no injuries had been reported.

Around 150 metres of safety barrier damage to the over bridge and parapet was caused by the incident.

Highways England said a temporary safety barrier has been installed overnight in place of the damaged barrier, while recovery of the HGV and its load took place.

For safety reasons, lane one will remain closed until permanent repair work can take place.

Highways England Operations Manager Tony Barrow said: “We have closed one lane of the carriageway in order to protect drivers, as a temporary measure in order to make the bridge safe for passing traffic.

“This is an elevated section, due to it being the junction 17 overbridge, and all of our available resources have been allocated to this incident overnight to restore as much capacity for morning traffic as possible.

“The lane will be reopened as soon as it is safe to do so. We apologise for any inconvenience and advise people to allow extra time for their journeys and to consider alternate routes where possible, particularly during peak times.

“A specialist team will be working to assess the repairs required and undertake the further works as soon as possible.”