Reports of a vehicle fire on the M25 today (Friday, August 4) caused traffic chaos near Potters Bar.
According to the AA, a "mobile crane" was alight and had pulled over to the side of the road with the fire service attending reports that it was smoking.
However, when a fire engine rushed to the scene they found that it "turned out to be a false alarm", according to a spokesperson for the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The incident was reported shortly before 1pm by Highways England, and they say that delays are currently "possible".
Two of four anti-clockwise lanes were initially closed between junctions 23 and 24, and one lane remained closed as of 1.45pm.
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The road remains open, however, and normal traffic conditions are expected to return at around 2pm.
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