Drivers have been warned to expect hours of delays on a major motorway this afternoon after a road traffic collision has caused severe issues.

The M6 is currently closed southbound between J33 and J32 in Lancaster following a collision, with drivers urged to follow a new diversion route in place.

Emergency services are currently in attendance, including the Air Ambulance, with National Highways Traffic Officers assisting with traffic management.

Traffic caught within the closure is in the process of being released, but drivers are still experiencing more than two hours of delays.

National Highways has urged drivers to follow the diverted route in place

National Highways has now urged drivers impacted by the closure to follow the diverted route.

The route instructs drivers to exit the M6 at J33 (Lancaster South) and at the roundabout take the first exit at A6 Garstang, Blackpool, Fleetwood.

From here they should follow the A6 southbound through Garstang, Bilsborrow, Barton, Broughton to M55 J1 (Broughton).

Drivers need to take the first roundabout exit for Birmingham M6 and follow the M55 to re-join the M6 J32, heading south towards Birmingham.

The junction has been closed following a serious collision

Updating drivers caught in the traffic, the agency said: "Hello, the M6 southbound remains closed between J33 and J32. J34 southbound entry slip has been closed to stop traffic joining the back of the closure traffic.

"The northbound carriageway remains open; however, traffic is slow moving past the location of the incident on the northbound carriageway. Thank you for your patience."

National Highways warned drivers to allow extra journey time and to plan ahead or even delay journeys completely.

Normal traffic conditions are expected to return later today between 4:15pm and 4:30pm.

Drivers have been warned of more than two hours of delays to journey times

Sharing an update, the agency posted on X: "The M6 in Lancashire remains closed southbound between J33 (Lancaster) & J32 (Preston) following a collision. Emergency services remain in attendance.

"Delays of at least 120 minutes on approach, please allow extra time for your journey."

The M6 motorway spans over 230 miles in length and covers the Midlands, through to the north of the UK, and upwards Scotland.

The motorway starts at Junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby, and then routes around Birmingham, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent and between Liverpool and Manchester.