One of the busiest stretches of the M25 around London has been partially reopened following a massive fire.

Police decided to open two lanes running in both directions between junctions 30 and 2 in Essex, including the Dartford tunnel and bridge.

The road was shut down yesterday after a warehouse fire sent plumes of thick black smoke billowing across the motorway at the Dartford Crossing, reducing visibility to nil.

Rush-hour jams were predicted earlier as the section of the M25 was expected to be closed for most of the morning.

A 27-mile diversion was in place via the Blackwall Tunnel yesterday.

About 44 firefighters battled to contain the fire at the Eagle Global Logistics warehouse on the Dolphin industrial estate at Purfleet.

Published Monday, January 10, 2005

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