There was traffic chaos in and around Stevenage last night after two further crashes on the A1(M) followed an earlier truck fire.

The motorway had been shut southbound between Junction 8 and 7 for Stevenage after a truck caught alight at 3.30pm and caused fire damage to the tarmac. The vehicle was recovered by 5.30pm.

Police were then called to a three-vehicle crash on the northbound stretch near Junction 6 for Welwyn at 5.21pm which blocked one lane for 35 minutes.

A grey Volvo XC60, a silver Honda Civic and a white Ford Transit van were involved, but nobody was injured.

At 7.12pm police received reports that a black Vauxhall Corsa had collided with the central reservation while heading northbound near Junction 9 for Letchworth Gate.

Nobody was injured and the road was clear at 7.48pm.

Traffic on major roads in around Stevenage was at a standstill at times as a result, with the roundabout for the A1(M) at Junction 8 particularly bad.