National Highways has warned drivers they face significant delays to their journeys.

07:48, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 07:49, Thu, Aug 6, 2026

M1 traffic Northamptonshire

Heavy traffic on the M1 in Northamptonshire following a diesel spillage (Image: MOTORWAY CAMERAS)

Drivers on a busy stretch of the M1 are facing rush hour traffic chaos following a diesel spillage. Two lanes of four are closed southbound in Northamptonshire between junction 17 (Coventry) and junction 16 (Northampton).

Clean up crews have rushed to the incident. National Highways wrote on X: "Lanes 1 & 2 (of 4) are closed on the #M1 southbound in #Northamptonshire between J17 #Coventry & J16 #Northampton due to a diesel spillage. Clean up crews en route. Current delays of up to 30 minutes on the approach, with 3 miles of congestion."

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