The A42 near Ashby was closed from late afternoon yesterday (Thursday) after a truck caught fire.

The incident happened on the southbound carriageway between the Packington junction and the turn off for Mercia Park and Measham

Highways East Midlands reported the closure at around 4pm.

But Leicestershire Police later said: "The A42 Southbound from Junction 12 is expected to closed for some considerable amount of time, Please find alternative routes. Updates to Follow. Thank you for your patience."

Highways East Midlands' social media channel carried photos of the fire and said: "The A42 is closed southbound between the B5006 (Packington) and the A42 Junction 11, due to a heavy goods vehicle fire.

"Traffic is currently stopped on the northbound carriageway whilst the fire service work to extinguish the fire. Please allow extra journey time."

A further update said: "Traffic has been released on the northbound carriageway. Long delays on approach."

But Highways East Midlands posted at around 3am: "The A42 is now OPEN southbound between the B5006 (Packington) and the A42 J11 following emergency resurfacing works due to a HGV fire."

The following diversion was then put in place:

• Exit the A42 southbound at Junction 12 and take the first exit (left) off the roundabout onto the
• B5006 southbound.
• Continue southbound along the B5006 for approximately 0.5km to the B5006/B4116 Junction.
• Then turn left (south) onto the B4116 for approximately 1.6km to the Leicester Road/Swepstone Road junction.
• Then turn left onto Leicester Road and immediately right back onto the B4116 Gallows Lane south(Staggered junction).
• Continue southbound along the B4116 for approximately 7.5km to the B4116/A444 mini roundabout junction at Twycross.
• At the mini roundabout turn right onto the A444 and continue northbound for approximately 6km passing through Appleby Parva to the A42 Junction 11.
• At the junction take the first exit off the roundabout and join the M42 southbound.

However, at around 6pm, Highways East Midlands posted: "Traffic is now in the process of being released past the scene in lane 2. Thank you for your patience."

But drivers were still reporting delays on the route into this evening.