M42 motorway closed after lorry fire
Part of the M42 in the West Midlands has been closed after a lorry fire.
The vehicle was on the hard shoulder of the southbound carriageway, near junction 3a, when it caught fire in the early hours.
The carriageway has been closed between junctions 4 and 3a, the interchange with the M40. Motorists have been advised to look for other routes.
The Highways Agency said the fire had been put out, but the lorry could not be cleared until it had cooled down.
It said the closure was expected to continue through the rush-hour period, and, while diversions were in place, drivers were being advised to avoid the area.
Nobody was injured in the blaze, a spokesperson for the agency said.