MOTORISTS from East Lancashire heading north out of the county are being advised to plan ahead after a lorry fire damaged part of the M6 last night.

Fire crews from four Lancashire stations attended the incident on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway near Fulwood, since just before 10pm last night.

Emergency services requested initially that the motorway should be closed in both directions while the vehicle, which was fully alight, was dealt with.

Today emergency road resurfacing works are underway at the location, which has led to traffic queueing back to junction 30 at Higher Walton, affecting drivers coming from both the M65 and M61.

A Highways England spokesman said that four lanes remained closed between junctions 31 and 32 and motorists should allow extra times for their journeys this morning.

Motorway police have predicted that the restrictions could be in place for "most of the morning" while engineers deal with the damage.