M1 closed towards London after multi-vehicle crash

A stretch of the M1 has closed in Bedfordshire after a crash involving multiple vehicles.

The busy motorway has closed southbound towards London after a collision between junction J11A (Charlton) and J11 near Luton Airport.

Drivers travelling back from their bank holiday trips face delays.

Traffic delay is currently 30 minutes on approach, with congestion snarling back for about seven miles, National Highways warned.

National Highways said: ‘The M1 in Bedfordshire is closed southbound between J11A (Charlton) and J10 (Luton) due to a collision involving multiple vehicles.

‘Emergency services, including Bedfordshire Police and East of England Ambulance Service are in attendance.

‘National Highways Traffic Officers are also on scene assisting with traffic management.’

Diversion routes have been put in place from junction J12 onto the A5120.

Traffic analyst Inrix shows that there also severe delayson the entrance to the diversion route.

Inrix said the crash happened near a broken-down vehicle.

Trapped traffic is being released after the incident, which was first reported at about 1pm.

We approached the emergency services for a comment.

Drivers should brace for disruption on the roads today as millions of people head back home after the bank holiday and the school half-term.

A total of 3 million journeys are predicted on roads across the UK today alone, the RAC and Inrix forecast.

The best time to hit the road will be very early in the morning or into the evening, the motoring expert RAC said.

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