Drivers are being warned of traffic chaos this morning as a vehicle fire has shut down large parts of the M25 motorway, causing long delays near Heathrow Airport.

National Highways: East reports that three lanes are closed on the M25 clockwise between J16 (M40) and J17 (Rickmansworth) due to a road traffic collision and subsequent vehicle fire.

The fourth lane is also closed on the anti-clockwise carriageway due to smoke from the vehicle fire.

Taking to social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, National Highways: East provided an update on the traffic situation.

It stated that recovery of the vehicle was now complete, with lane three being reopened.

It added that lane four remains closed clockwise between J16 and J17 for "clear up".

There is an approximate 90-minute delay, with nine miles of congestion back to Junction 14, near Heathrow Airport.

Long delays are expected on the M25 as emergency services deal with the car fire

National Highways added: "Please plan ahead and allow extra time if travelling to Heathrow Terminal 5 this morning."

National Highways confirmed that Thames Valley Police's Roads Policing unit is at the scene. GB News has contacted the unit for a comment.

Traffic maps suggest that normal traffic conditions will not return until the afternoon at the earliest.

There are around nine miles of delays on the approach to Heathrow Airport

Drivers face major delays across the transport network this morning

Some lanes remain closed for clean-up