M6 motorway closed after tanker spills 32,000 litres of gin

The M6 ground to a halt last night after a collision caused thousands of litres of gin to spill onto the busy motorway.

Both carriageways of the commuter route in Cheshire came to a complete standstill at around 5.30pm. It has since reopened.

Unbeknown to frustrated motorists, a lorry and a liquid transport tanker had collided causing 32,000 litres of booze to spill out onto the road below, the Mirror reports.

Highways England said last night: "The M6 northbound in Cheshire is closed between junctions 19 and 20 due to a collision.

"A diversion route is in place: Exit the M6 at junction 19 an join the A556 northbound towards Altrincham. Then join the M56 westbound towards Runcorn, to then re-join the M6.

"Follow the solid black square diversion symbol."

Police and firefighters were called to what Cheshire Police described as a 'gincident' (North West Motorway Police /SWNS)

32,000 litres spilled out of the tanker and on to the road after the crash (North West Motorway Police /SWNS)

The road was closed in both directions (Highways England)

But when the cause of the delay began to spread up the motorway, many took to Twitter to offer a spirit-raising joke or two.

One person wrote: "Sorry can't come to work because I'm licking the central reservation on the M6 near Cheshire I'll be back on Monday."

Another said: "Go home M6, you're drunk."

Shortly before 10pm Cheshire Police confirmed the road was still seriously clogged.

"The M6 remains closed at the current time between J19 & J20 following a collision between two HGVs," the force tweeted.

"One of the vehicles is a tanker carrying around 32,000 litres of concentrated gin which is leaking onto the carriageway #GINcident."