THE M25 in Essex will be closed throughout the evening rush hour as emergency services deal with the aftermath of a lorry fire. 

The anticlockwise carriageway has been closed between junctions 27 and 26 since around 4am this morning due to the incident. 

It has caused long tailbacks to junction 28 at Brentwood, with Highways England warning of four-mile queues and delays of up to one hour. 

Essex Fire Service says it took two hours to extinguish the fire but warned it would take some time for the road to reopen. 

A spokesman said: "Crews were called to a lorry fire on the M25 between Junction 27 - 26 just before 4am this morning.

"On arrival firefighters reported that the lorry was 100% alight.

"Crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and completely extinguished it by 6.40am. Crews expect to remain on scene for some time to continue dampening down the area.

"The cause has been recorded as accidental."

Echo:

Highways England says debris is being removed from the road but resurfacing works will need to take place before police can allow traffic through again. 

No timeframe for when the road will reopen has been given but Essex Traffic Control Centre says the carriageway will remain closed "until after the evening rush".