One of Britain’s busiest motorways has been closed in both directions after a serious crash this morning.
The M25 was shut by police at around 11.30am after a collision involving three vehicles between junction 27 at Epping and junction 28 at Brentwood.
Emergency services rushed to the scene following the incident, with the air ambulance being called in to help.
In the aftermath of the crash the clockwise and anti-clockwise carriageways were both shut, causing seven miles of tailbacks as people attempt to make an early getaway before Christmas.
Photos shared on social media show vehicles at a standstill, with warnings for drivers to stay away from the area due to queues of more than an hour.
While the clockwise carriageway has since re-opened, lanes heading in the other direction are still closed with officials warning the road could remain shut for hours.
No details have been released as of yet about whether anyone has been injured in the crash.
Both carriageways on the M25 have been closed following a serious road traffic collision
Tailbacks are stretching back along the motorway with motorists urged to avoid the area
Emergency services are attending the scene of a serious road traffic incident on the M25
Road traffic cameras are illustrating the extent of the current tailbacks on the M25
In a statement released to the MailOnline, Essex Police said: ‘We are currently at the scene of a serious collision on the anti-clockwise carriageway of the M25 between junctions 27 and 28.
‘There is significant disruption in the area and we are expecting this to continue for a number of hours with possible road closures on both carriageways.
‘Please avoid the area if you can and plan accordingly.
‘We appreciate your patience and we will update you as soon as we can’.
Essex Police, East of England Ambulance Service and Essex Fire and Rescue Service have all been contacted by the MailOnline for additional comment on the incident.
The hour long tailbacks stemming from the collision have resulted in travel chaos for those travelling on the M25 at the time of the incident.
One family on their way to Stansted Airport missed their flight home to Portugal, with Caroline telling the Romford Recorder that her family have now been forced to book a hotel at the airport for tonight.
‘We were flying with Ryanair and they said we have to pay £100 per person and they will get us on next available flight’, she said.