Was it in the sloe lane? Lorry-load of 32,000 litres of GIN spills onto the M6 following a crash that left the motorway closed for 11 hours

  • M6 in Cheshire was shut after highly-flammable 'concentrated gin' was spilled
  • Two HGVs collided during evening rush hour yesterday, causing 11 hour delays
  • Emergency services wore breathing apparatus as they worked to clear alcohol
  • Police described the spillage as a 'gincident', prompting a raft of funny replies

By Alexander Robertson For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A lorry tanker spilled 32,000 litres of gin across a busy motorway following a crash that left the motorists queuing for 11 hours.

The M6 in Cheshire was shut after the highly-flammable 'concentrated gin' covered the carriageway after two HGVs collided during the evening rush hour yesterday.

Emergency services were forced to wear breathing apparatus as they worked to clear the alcohol.

Firefighters were seen coating the tarmac with a special foam designed to stop the alcohol from igniting during he clean-up operation.

Cheshire Police described the spillage as a 'gincident' on Twitter, prompting a raft of funny replies from social media users. 

A lorry tanker spilled 32,000 litres of gin across a busy motorway following a crash that left the motorists queuing for 11 hours

A lorry tanker spilled 32,000 litres of gin across a busy motorway following a crash that left the motorists queuing for 11 hours

The M6 in Cheshire was shut after the highly-flammable 'concentrated gin' covered the carriageway after two HGVs collided during the evening rush hour yesterday

The M6 in Cheshire was shut after the highly-flammable 'concentrated gin' covered the carriageway after two HGVs collided during the evening rush hour yesterday

Cheshire Police described the spillage as a 'gincident' on Twitter, prompting a raft of funny replies from social media users

Cheshire Police described the spillage as a 'gincident' on Twitter, prompting a raft of funny replies from social media users

Among those caught up in the delays was motorist Rachel Sargeant, who joked: 'Heartbreaking that I don't have straw.'

Twitter user @MrRee2 asked if the accident happened in the 'sloe lane', and that those trapped in queues 'just had to gin and bear it'.

A police spokesman said: 'One of vehicles involved is a tanker which is carrying approximately 32,000 litres of concentrated gin, which is leaking onto the carriageway.

'Due to the flammability of the alcohol a decision was taken to close the motorway in both directions between junctions 19 and 20.' 

Among those caught up in the delays was motorist Rachel Sargeant, who joked: 'Heartbreaking that I don't have straw'

Among those caught up in the delays was motorist Rachel Sargeant, who joked: 'Heartbreaking that I don't have straw'

Firefighters were seen coating the tarmac with a special foam designed to stop the alcohol from igniting during he clean-up operation

Firefighters were seen coating the tarmac with a special foam designed to stop the alcohol from igniting during he clean-up operation

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