MOTORISTS continue to face disruption travelling on the M56 this morning, Thursday.

It follows a huge lorry fire that broke out on the motorway yesterday evening at around 7.45pm, with large plumes of smoke visible.

The road was closed in both directions between junction 12 for Runcorn and junction 14 for Helsby, with drivers warned it would be closed for ‘some time’.

Now, one lane out of three remains closed eastbound between junctions 14 and 12 due to resurfacing work, with slow traffic reported.

North West Fire Control received multiple reports of a fire involving a large goods vehicle on the hard shoulder of the M56 at around 7.45pm.

The fire caused a significant amount of thick smoke, with crews requesting that both carriageways be closed.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel water jets to tackle the blaze, with ‘good progress’ being made by 9pm.

The blaze was almost fully extinguished by 10pm.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire Service said at that time: "It is believed the vehicle was carrying a quantity of top soil and cardboard waste.

“The driver has been accounted for and is safe and well.”

In an update this morning, the spokesman added: “By dragging the contents of the lorry onto the carriageway, crews were able to access the burning material and fully extinguish it.

“The vehicle was removed from the scene shortly before 3am. We were in attendance for around seven and a half hours.

“This morning, one lane of the motorway eastbound remains closed to allow for resurfacing.”