Three vehicles have crashed on the A1(M) following a bus fire this afternoon (Friday).

The Comet: The bendy bus sits on the hard shoulder as traffic enforcement officers clear up diesel spillage in lane oneThe bendy bus sits on the hard shoulder as traffic enforcement officers clear up diesel spillage in lane one (Image: Archant)

A Vauxhall Vetra and two Ford Transit vans collided after being stuck in traffic relating to a Standsted Airport bendy bus catching fire at about 12.25pm.

Police believe the vehicles crashed near junction 6 on the northbound carriageway in a bid to avoid a broken down Mazda MX5 in the outside lane.

The lane had been shut as a result of the fire but reopened at 1.20pm.

The Mazda was recovered at 2.05pm, and no one is believed to have been injured.