M25 anticlockwise closure after hay-laden lorry fire

A lorry carrying hay bales caught fire on the M25, forcing the anticlockwise carriageway to close between junctions 25 at Enfield and 24 at Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. The blaze was reported in the early hours of the morning, with emergency services and National Highways teams at the scene as traffic in the region ground to a halt. Motorists faced substantial delays, with authorities warning that disruption could last for several hours as crews worked to fully extinguish the fire and recover damaged vehicles.

The closure blocks a key stretch of Britain’s usually congested orbital motorway, with National Highways confirming that lanes 1 and 2 were closed for vehicle recovery and clean-up. Motorists attempting to travel anticlockwise toward London were diverted off the M25, using exits and entry slip roads around the affected area. Early traffic assessments indicated significant accumulated delays, and subsequent updates suggested the delays could extend well beyond the typical morning rush, as queues built to multiple miles in length.

Fire and rescue services, including Hertfordshire Fire and London Fire Brigades, were on the scene alongside police and National Highways traffic...