Drivers were today stranded for hours in gridlocked traffic on the M25 after a major stretch was shut following flooding and a serious crash.
A section of the anti-clockwise carriageway between junction 21A for the M1 and junction 20 at Watford was completely closed temporarily following a three vehicle smash at around 5.20am.
A Highways England spokesman said some lanes were also closed for safety reasons because of excess surface water during torrential rain.
Drivers have been warned they face up to three-hour delays with traffic disruption expected until 12.30pm.
Some motorists described the motorway on Twitter as a “car park” as they vented frustration over the gridlock.
Lee Evans tweeted: “#M25 is in gridlock 26-21A and all surrounding routes as motorway remains closed - delays of 3+ hours @m11m25carnage
Iesha Small wrote: “M25 near junction 20 = absolute car park. Lots of ambulances too. Really hope people involved in incident are/will be ok.”
While an exasperated Rachel Wick wrote she has edged just over half-a-mile in just under 90 minutes between junctions 22 and 21A.
Elsewhere, the M4 was also shut westbound at junction8/9 near Maidenhead.
