The M11 has been closed off in both directions near Stansted Airport after a lorry overturned.

The major motorway was shut between J8 near Stansted Airport and J7A near Harlow North following the incident, reports.

Nationals Highways said the disruption is "due to a collision involving an overturned heavy goods vehicle which has crossed from the northbound carriageway onto the southbound carriageway and has subsequently overturned and come to rest on its side".

The government-owned company, which maintains motorways and A-roads, had warned drivers that the closures are set to remain in effect for several hours while police probe the incident.

"Essex police will be carrying out collision investigations throughout the evening," it said. "The closures are expected to remain in place for several hours throughout the evening and into the night.

"National Highways Traffic Officers and service providers are in attendance and are assisting with traffic management. Traffic caught within the closure on the southbound carriageway is in the process of being released via rearward relief.

"Traffic caught within the closure on the northbound carriageway is in the process of being released in lane 1. This will take some time due to the volumes of traffic.

"Please await until you are instructed in both directions. Thank you for your patience."

Adam Pipe, head of roads policing, has warned that "clearly people are going to be missing their flights" following the incident and the sizeable traffic build ups that have followed.

He called on people stuck in logjams not to walk around on the hard shoulder as they wait.

Mr Pipe said: There is trapped traffic between junction seven [Harlow Hastingwood] and eight northbound, and junction nine [A11] and eight southbound.

"Diversions are in place, but it is having an impact on people trying to get to the airport. One plea - members of the public are leaving their vehicles and have started to walk up the hard shoulder of the motorway and we would ask [them] not to do that.

"We will get to members of the public as quickly as we can, but clearly people are going to be missing their flights at the airport," he added.

The latest information on diversions and the status of the roads affected is available on the National Highways website .

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