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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Acid spill off overturned lorry closes M11 near Stansted | Acid spill off overturned lorry closes M11 near Stansted |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A lorry has overturned on a motorway in Essex and spilled a large amount of chemicals across both carriageways. | A lorry has overturned on a motorway in Essex and spilled a large amount of chemicals across both carriageways. |
| The M11 has been shut in both directions between Harlow and Bishop's Stortford near Stansted Airport. | The M11 has been shut in both directions between Harlow and Bishop's Stortford near Stansted Airport. |
| The chemicals have been identified as melamine formaldehyde resin and phosphoric acid, Essex Fire and Rescue Service said. | The chemicals have been identified as melamine formaldehyde resin and phosphoric acid, Essex Fire and Rescue Service said. |
| Firefighters have been advised they are not hazardous and Highways Agency clean-up crews are tackling the spill. | Firefighters have been advised they are not hazardous and Highways Agency clean-up crews are tackling the spill. |
| The motorway has been closed from junction 7 to 8 and motorists have been urged to avoid the area and find alternative routes. | The motorway has been closed from junction 7 to 8 and motorists have been urged to avoid the area and find alternative routes. |
| "Diversions are in place but the road is likely to remain closed in both directions for some considerable time," a police spokesman said. | "Diversions are in place but the road is likely to remain closed in both directions for some considerable time," a police spokesman said. |
| "Motorists going to Stansted Airport should plan alternative routes avoiding the motorway and allow plenty of extra time for their journeys." | "Motorists going to Stansted Airport should plan alternative routes avoiding the motorway and allow plenty of extra time for their journeys." |
| The slip roads from the M25 onto the M11 have been shut and congestion is building up on other roads in south Essex. | |
| The Highways Agency said the motorway was not likely to be reopened until 03:30 BST on Friday and it may be later. | |
| Blocked drains | Blocked drains |
| Divisional fire officer Terry Povey said: "The chemicals are low risk to the health of people and we have contained the leak. | |
| "We have blocked the drains and a clean-up team is tackling the spillage. | |
| "This has been downgraded because the chemicals do not pose a significant health risk. | "This has been downgraded because the chemicals do not pose a significant health risk. |
| "It is now a matter of getting the road cleared so it can reopen." | "It is now a matter of getting the road cleared so it can reopen." |
| Essex Police said: "The fire service will be dealing with the spillage in liaison with the Environment Agency. | Essex Police said: "The fire service will be dealing with the spillage in liaison with the Environment Agency. |
| "The ambulance service is treating the driver of the lorry, who has received cuts and bruises but is not believed to be seriously injured." | "The ambulance service is treating the driver of the lorry, who has received cuts and bruises but is not believed to be seriously injured." |
| No other vehicles were involved in the crash which happened at 17:10 BST. | No other vehicles were involved in the crash which happened at 17:10 BST. |