MOTORING misery descended on the M6 today as urgent attempts to clean up a chemical spill following a serious accident involving two lorries on Monday night.

Traffic tailed back for miles in each direction as police officers, fire crews and staff from the Highways Agency and Chemical Incident Unit worked to clear up formaldehyde solution which had escaped from barrels that had been split from a HGV that had veered into the central reservation flipped on its side.

The lorry had been travelling southbound at junction 33, south of Lancaster, at 10pm when it veered into the central reservation, which gave way, and then collided with a foreign freight lorry travelling northbound.

The 62-year-old driver of the lorry carrying the toxic and corrosive chemicals was rushed to Preston Royal Infirmary with serious injuries, while the driver of the second HGV was also taken to the nearby hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Two police officers and a firefighter were also taken to hospital for treatment to exposure to the solution as they assisted the clean up operation, but were later released.

The accident resulted in the M6 being closed in both directions until Tuesday morning, when two lanes of the southbound carriageway were reopened.

The northbound carriageway was expected to be opened at around 6pm today.

Lancashire Police urged motorists heading north to stagger travelling home times to avoid snarl ups on alternative routes, such as the A6, which were blocked with traffic for much of Tuesday.

Cumbria Police meanwhile criticised drivers who had been looking to avoid tailbacks, which left some motorists at a standstill for four hours, by using the hard shoulder, risking other drivers and emergency crews rushing to the scene.