M1 traffic - live: Motorway at standstill near Junction 23 after lorry overturns

M1 traffic - live: Motorway at standstill near Junction 23 after lorry overturns There are major delays on the M1 this morning after an overturned lorry forced police to close the motorway in both directions Drivers face chaos on a major motorway which is closed in both directions after a lorry overturned and is lying over the central reservation barrier. The M1 has been shut in Leicestershire between junction 24, for Kegworth, and junction 23A for the A42. Emergency services are at the scene of the crash, National Highway said: "The M1 is closed in both directions between J24 (Kegworth) and J23A (A42 junction) due to an overturned lorry that has come to rest on the central reservation barrier. "Emergency services are on scene. There are approximately 30 min delays and 2 miles of congestion on the approach." This is a live news event. Please check below for the latest. Key Events Image shows lorry lying on its side over central reservation A crane can be seen helping to move a lorry which came to rest over the central reservation following a crash this morning on the M1. Both sides are closed and queuing traffic can be seen behind. "Both carriageways remain closed due to overturned lorry that has come to rest on the central reservation barrier," said National Highways. 'Complex recovery operation will be ongoing at scene throughout the morning' National Highways says that the recovery operation is "complex" and will be ongoing throught th emorning. A statement read: "The M1 in Leicestershire is closed southbound between J23a (East Midlands Airport) and J23 and northbound between J23a and J24 (Kegworth) due to a collision involving an overturned lorry. "The lorry has come to rest on top of the central reservation barrier. "Emergency services including Leicestershire Police have been in attendance. National Highways Traffic Officers and contractors are also on scene providing assistance with traffic management. "A complex recovery operation will be ongoing at scene throughout the morning." Northbound diversion details The northbound diversion, meanwhile, is signed with a solid square symbol. Drivers should: - Exit the M1 northbound at Junction 23a. - Take the slip road onto the A42. - At Finger Farm Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the A453 southbound. - Continue southbound on the A453 to the A453/A50/M1 J24 interchange. - Rejoin the M1 northbound carriageway at J24. Southbound diversion details This is the route to follow if you're planning on heading southbound on the M1 around the closure. It's signed with the solid triange symbols. - Exit the M1 southbound at Junction 24. - Take the 4th exit onto the A453 southbound. - Continue southbound on the A453 to the M1 J23a / A42 / A453 Finger Farm Roundabout. - At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the M1/A42 southbound entry slip road. - Continue onto the M1 southbound free-flow lane. - Rejoin the main M1 southbound carriageway at J23a. 'Long delays of 45 minutes' - National Highways National Highways has now created an incident page for the M1 crash, which says drivers should expect 45 minute delays. "The lorry has come to rest on top of the central reservation barrier," it said. "Specialist recovery units are en route to scene to begin the safe removal of the vehicle." A diversion has been put in place. We will bring you details of that shortly. Lengthy queues for drivers Traffic cameras have indicated just how much traffic the incident is causing motorists on what is a very busy stretch of the M1 in the East Midlands. There are approxiametely 30 minutes of delays and two miles of congestion on the approach, according to National Highways.