Several people have been injured in a crash between a lorry and a minibus on the M25, bringing traffic to an hours-long standstill.
Essex police say several people were hurt in the Monday evening collision that has resulted in the closure of the motorway anti-clockwise between J27 & J26.
Motorists are being told to find alternative routes if they need to travel before Tuesday morning rush hour after a string of incidents also hit the diversion route along the M11.
Drivers say they have been waiting hours as multiple incidents along the stretch sparked miles of traffic jams, Essex Live reports.
Footage has captured stuck motorists getting out of their cars to walk along the motorway and sit on the barrier while they waited for movement.
Highways England confirmed there are also hour-long delays on the M11 this evening.
More than five miles of congestion has jammed the southbound stretch between J6 and J4 approaching the A406 junction due to multiple incidents in the area.
A broken down lorry closed two lanes on Waterworks roundabout roundabout (A406) as recovery is arranged.
A single vehicle collision was holding up traffic at Charlie Browns roundabout, and a local building fire was causing significant delays on the A406 westbound.
The multi-vehicle collision between a box van, car and overturned van also shut the road between J25 for the M11 at J6 and J26 for Waltham Abbey.
Emergency services closed the road while they attend to the accident where trapped traffic within the closure late on Monday.
A diversion route was also in operation.
Driver Parv Domah was among those caught up in the M25 traffic tailbacks near junction 26 tonight.
He said: “I can’t tell you exactly what happened, I can only say I’ve been here going on three hours.
“There were approximately 30 emergency vehicles that drove past in that time, as well as two air ambulances.
“Traffic was stopped on both sides of the carriageway at one point and now on the anti-clockwise is still shut.”
Authorities were advising drivers to stay away from the area at all costs to avoid delays.
Essex Police said: "Officers are on the scene of a serious collision on the M25near Waltham Abbey. Both carriageways will close shortly.
"If on the motorway, please follow directions from officers on the scene. If you can, avoid the area. We'll bring you more as soon as we can."
Fire crews from Brentwood, Loughton, Waltham Abbey and Epping attended the scene on the M25 tonight.
Incident Commander Richie Green, of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our crews worked extremely hard in a difficult and dynamic situation.
“We thank the public for their patience while we worked with other emergency services to make the scene safe.”
