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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
World
Ben McVay

M6 closed as firefighters fear 32,000-litre gin spillage could ignite tanker

Cheshire Fire and Rescue have closed the M6 while they work to clear up a 'highly flammable' leak from a tanker carrying gin.

A 300m-cordon is in place between Junctions 19 and 20 - leading to the carriageway's closure both ways.

The concentrated gin currently leaking from the tanker is said to be 80 per cent.

It is highly flammable and there is a risk of explosion should it ignite - say Cheshire Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters hope to get another tanker to the scene so that the gin can be pumped into that.

The collision between two lorries tonight around 5.30pm has caused three-mile tailbacks as motorists wait to leave the road through a diversion.

Michael Gibson, 30, who took the photo of queuing traffic following today’s gin spillage on the road says he has not ‘had the engine on since 6pm’.

Chef Michael, said he was hoping to reach Garstang, Lancs, tonight but has now been stationary for over two hours.

North West Motorway Police say ‘relief’ for all those trapped on the M6 will come from the rear - so those at the front of the queue you ‘will not see any action’.

They tweeted (SIC): “if I haven’t replied to personal comments or questions in relation to the incident on the M6, I apologise, we have been very busy in the control room, as far as we have been told rearward relief is still on going, if you are at the front of the queue you will not see any action.”

Follow the live updates here.

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