Six killed in M6 crash horror

Four children and their parents were among seven people killed in a series of crashes which brought chaos to the M6 today.

The youngsters and two adults died at the scene when their car, which had been travelling from Birmingham to Llandudno, burst into flames after a collision on the northbound carriageway last night.

A Portuguese lorry driver, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The crash happened at around 10.40pm between junctions 16 at Barthomley and 17 for Sandbach.

The busy motorway suffered 12 hours of crash mayhem which continued today. The incidents were:

* A man in his 30s died when the white van he was driving hit a bridge parapet on the northbound M6 between junctions 17 and 18 for Chester at around 9pm. The motorway was shut northbound and caused delays of around an hour.

* Another stretch between 16 and 17 was shut following the accident which claimed five lives at around 10.40pm. It reopened at around 7.20am

* Three lorries collided at around 1am today, leaving a driver in his 30s trapped in his cab between junctions 15 and 16 at Stoke-on-Trent northbound for two hours before he was freed and transferred to University Hospital of North Staffordshire. All lanes were closed and re-opened at around 8am.

* Ten miles of tailbacks built up after a van carrying bread and milk travelling north crossed onto the M6 southbound and overturned near Junction 14 for Stafford at around 5am. The motorway was shut southbound at Junction 15 while repair work was carried out.

* Overnight roadworks on the M6 southbound between Spaghetti Junction and Junction 5 for Castle Bromwich which were meant to run from 10pm to 6pm over-ran by an hour, causing "significant tailbacks" today.

* One lane of the northbound carriageway between junctions 15 and 14 was closed after a HGV broke down at around 8.30am, causing more delays.

The problems brought rush-hour misery for drivers across the area with roads leading onto the M6 becoming clogged.

The A34 southbound between Stone and Junction 14 of the M6 at Stafford was brought to a virtual standstill.