Gas leak closes busy motorway

Part of Britain's busiest motorway was closed today because of a hotel gas leak.

The shutdown was on the M25 close to Heathrow airport between junction 12 and junction 14 west of London.

The Fire Brigade ordered the road to be closed in both directions from just after midday following a gas leak at an hotel in Egham, Surrey.

Traffic travelling clockwise was being diverted down the M3 at junction 12.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "The Fire Brigade has imposed an exclusion zone around the the hotel and we're very much in their hands."

The incident began after a report of a gas leak on the premises of the Runnymede Hotel, which was evacuated.

Anti-clockwise traffic on the M25 was being diverted east of the motorway on to the A3044.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "We managed to get diversion signs up quickly so that helped minimise the disruption. We're hoping that the road will be open again in time for the evening rush-hour."