Traffic Alert: Long delays on M6 following serious accident

4.30pm Update

All lanes are now open but there are still long tailbacks being reported on the northbound carriageway.

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Motorists travelling on the northbound M6 towards Birmingham are being warned of delays of up to two hours following a serious accident between a van and a car.

Both carriageways between Junctions 6 (A38/Birmingham city centre) and 7 (Great Barr) had to be closed shortly after the accident to allow the air ambulance helicopter to land on the carriageway to ferry the injured to hospital.

The scene of the accident

The vehicles had collided with the central reservation and emergency repairs are having to be made.

Traffic has been released southbound but two lanes remain closed northbound and traffic is currently being disrupted back to Junction 4a (the connection with the M42).

Highways England has said it does not expect the situation to clear until at least 4pm and drivers have been advised to avoid the area if possible or to allow extra for their journey.