TWO lanes of the M6 were closed in the early hours after a caravan set alight.

Cumbria Police were called to the northbound carriageway of the motorway by a member of public who spotted the blaze before 1am yesterday (May 22).

The driver towing the caravan had unhitched his car from it on the hard shoulder one mile south of Junction 40 (Penrith) and moved away to stay safe.

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Officers closed two lanes of the motorway leaving the outside lane open.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service attended and crews from Shap and Penrith used two hose reel jets to extinguish the flames.

The cause of the fire is unknown but it is not being treated as suspicious.