Major motorway closes after Stourbridge fire sends thick smoke across road as UK wildfires cause travel chaos

A MAJOR motorway has been closed after a blaze in Stourbridge sent thick smoke blowing across the road. The M6 northbound near Birmingham was closed between J5 and J6 due to the huge grass fire. The M6 has been closed after a massive blaze nearby A huge fire tears through Stourbridge, causing chaos for the surrounding area Thick smoke blowing across the northbound carriageway caused the closure, said National Highways. Closures were implemented for safety reasons with drivers potentially having their vision obscured on the major motorway. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Six-mile tailbacks have been reported on the M6 as commuters heading home from work face travel misery. The northbound carriageway has now reopened, according to National Highways. But the knock-on effects from the closure mean travel chaos is still on the cards for many Brits. Reduced speeds are in force meaning drivers have been forced to slow to a crawl as they sit bumper-to-bumper in the sweltering heat. Motorists have been warned to expect increased journey times. There are delays of up to 150 minutes on the M6, said National Highways. Most read in The Sun More than 60 firefighters are tackling a huge wildfire in Stourbridge Drivers have also been urged to find alternative routes if possible. The M6 southbound carriageway has remained open during the chaos but reduced speeds are in place. One witness said the monster blaze in Stourbridge was “like something from a horror movie”. The fire is thought to have started at a golf course and jumped the road where it spread fast to homes. An estimated 49 acres of land, including a forest, is burning as locals are forced to flee their homes. Entire houses can be seen consumed by flames and more than 60 firefighters are tackling the huge wildfire. Stourbridge Town Hall has been set up as a rest centre after people were forced to flee their homes following a wildfire near a golf course. Meanwhile, there were road closures in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, after another large fire. Several roads are currently closed in both directions in this area, cops said. And there was more commuter chaos after a train derailed near Lewes in East Sussex. Cops said a number of passengers became trapped on the train but they have now been “safely evacuated” with two people suffering injuries. Southern Rail says major disruption is expected for the rest of the day as trains are unable to run through the area. The train operator confirmed services will be cancelled until 10pm earliest and people have been urged to avoid the area. It comes as temperatures soared to 36 degrees in England on one of the hottest days on record.