M25 traffic RECAP: Rush hour travel chaos with car on fire and 'long delays'
Traffic is at a complete standstill on a section of the busy UK motorway.
M25 drivers faced travel chaos during the busy rush hour period following a vehicle fire. All traffic was been held with severe delays on the anticlockwise stretch of the motorway from J9 A243 (Leatherhead) to J8 A217 Brighton Road (Reigate).
At the time of reporting, two lanes were closed. Motorway camera footage captured traffic building and vehicles at a complete standstill. Traffic service Inrix wrote: "Two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to vehicle fire on M25 anticlockwise from J9 A243 (Leatherhead) to J8 A217 Brighton Road (Reigate). Lanes one and two (of four) are closed." It later added: "All traffic being temporarily held and long delays due to car fire."
The incident is now reported to have been cleared wilth all lanes re-opened.
LIVE BLOG IS NOW CLOSED.
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KEY EVENTS
Recap of events
Drivers on the M25 faced major disruption this evening following a vehicle fire on the anti-clockwise carriageway between Epsom (J9) and Reigate (J8).
The incident began shortly after 6pm, when traffic was brought to a standstill between the Leatherhead and Reigate junctions.
Emergency services, including Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, attended the scene.
At its peak:
-Up to six miles of congestion built up on the anti-clockwise stretch
-All traffic was temporarily held, with vehicles stationaryLanes one and two (of four) were closed, later reduced to a single lane closure
Delays quickly escalated, with journey times reaching around 90 minutes at the height of the disruption. Queues stretched back past Leatherhead towards Stoke D’Abernon and Cobham, with knock-on delays affecting the A24 and surrounding local roads.
As the evening progressed:
- Traffic was gradually releasedLane closures were reduced
-Congestion began to ease
By around 7pm, all lanes had reopened, and delays had reduced to approximately 20 minutes.
As normal traffic conditions were expected to return between 7:15pm and 7:30pm, this live blog will now close.
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All lanes now re-opened
All lanes have now re-opened between J9 Epsom - J8 Reigate at Surrey,
Delays now down to around 20 minutes
All lanes are now open on the #M25 anti-clockwise in #Surrey between J9 #Epsom - J8 #Reigate following an earlier vehicle fire.
\u2014 National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) April 22, 2026
There are currently 20 minute delays against expected travel times and 4 miles of congestion. pic.twitter.com/KlWiPU2Wty
How long are the delays on the M25 now?
According to the National Highways website, delays are now up to an hour and a half.
Below is traffic between junction 8 and 9.
Down to 1 lane closure out of 4
Closures are now down to one lane between J9 Epsom - J8 Reigate
Service providers are working to clear the scene.
There is currently 6 miles of congestion.
Delay times are just over an hour.
Lane 1 (of 4) remains closed on the #M25 anti-clockwise in #Surrey between J9 #Epsom - J8 #Reigate following an earlier vehicle fire.
\u2014 National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) April 22, 2026
Service providers are working to clear the scene.
There are currently 65 minute delays against expected travel time and 6 miles of congestion pic.twitter.com/HopYsbguJd
Stretch of congestion
The AA route planner shows where the congestion runs to on anti-clockwise carriageway, where queues are stretching past the junction near Leatherhead and back towards the Stoke D’Abernon and Cobham area.
Traffic is also slow on the approaches to the junction, with knock-on delays affecting connecting routes including the A24 and local roads into Leatherhead.
M25 congestion J9-10 anti-clockwise
Heavy congestion pictured anti-clockwise on the M25 from junctions 9 to 10.
When is normal traffic expected to resume on the M25?
Normal traffic conditions are expected between 19:15 and 19:30 this evening.
Congestion captured on the M25
Current congestion captured on the M25 Junctions 8 and 9
Vehicle fire
According to National Highways, Traffic was stopped due to a vehicle fire.
Surrey Fire and Rescue remain at the scene.
Six miles of congestion
Six miles of congestion is being reported on the M25 anti-clockwise at Surrey from J9 Epsom to to J8 Reigate following an earlier collision.
We will bring you more updates as they arrive.
Lanes 1 and 2 (of 4) are closed on the #M25 anti-clockwise in #Surrey between J9 #Epsom - J8 #Reigate due to a vehicle fire. @SurreyFRS remain on scene.
\u2014 National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) April 22, 2026
There are currently 60 minute delays against expected travel time and 6 miles of congestion. pic.twitter.com/y1hR2IvSgG
