All traffic was stopped on a stretch of the M25 on Friday afternoon during rush hour following a coach fire. The incident occurred on the anticlockwise carriageway between Junction 9 (Leatherhead) and Junction 8 (Redhill) in Greater London, according to National Highways.
Emergency services, including Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, were dispatched to the scene. Fire crews reported heavy smoke but confirmed that all passengers were accounted for. Four fire engines and a water carrier were in attendance, alongside police and ambulance services.
National Highways initially warned of 58-minute delays and eight miles of congestion. Over the evening, delays peaked at two hours with 13 miles of queuing traffic. Lanes were reopened slowly, with recovery and clean-up operations continuing into the night. By 10pm, one lane remained closed with one mile of congestion and 15-minute delays.
The fire service stated: 'We are dealing with a coach fire on the M25, junction 9 to 8, Leatherhead. There's lots of smoke in the area. Everyone is accounted for.'
