Damage caused to the van by the fire Pic: Preston Police

Three lanes have reopened on the M6 near Preston after a major vehicle fire.

A van burst into flames between Junction 31A and 32 on the northbound carriageway shortly after 12noon on Saturday (28 May).

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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service are continuing to make the vehicle safe and recover it with two lanes of the motorway closed, causing delays back to Junction 27. Highways England says one lane of the M6 is to be closed overnight while repairs are made to the road.

Fire crews from Preston and Fulwood attended the scene. Six propane cylinders were contained within the van. The van driver required precautionary checks from paramedics.

All lanes were closed on the M6 northbound near Preston during the incident Pic: NPAS Warton

Motorists are seeing delays of more than an hour and a half, with Highways England saying the usual Lake District Bank Holiday weekend getaway has caused bottlenecks throughout the region.

Preston has seen its major routes clogged up with the A6 in Fulwood bumper to bumper as drivers seek to find alternative routes. At 5pm on Saturday the route out of the city centre up Garstang Road was congested all the way to the Broughton roundabout.

Fire crews working on the wreckage of the van Pic: NPAS Warton

Lancashire Police has issued a warning to drivers not to be tempted to use the hard shoulder, as the police helicopter snapped motorists making illegal maneouveres on the motorway.