Two motorists have escaped serious injury after they were involved in a crash with a lorry on the M25.

Essex Police say two people inside a van were injured - but not seriously - following the collision in the early hours of this morning (January 27).

The emergency services were called to the clockwise carriageway near junction 26 for Waltham Abbey at 5.15am to reports of a collision involving a van and a lorry.

Fire crews from Essex and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service joined road policing and traffic officers and a full closure was put in place clockwise between junction 25 for Enfield and 27 for the M11.

Epping Forest Guardian: Emergency services on the M25. Credit: Essex Roads PolicingEmergency services on the M25. Credit: Essex Roads Policing

Photos taken by police officers at the scene showed the van suffered significant damage.

Essex Roads Policing tweeted that the two van occupants were injured but "thankfully not seriously".

Epping Forest Guardian: The van. Credit: Essex Roads PolicingThe van. Credit: Essex Roads Policing

The M25 reopened at around 6.45am.

Essex Police are appealing for anyone who saw what happened or who has dash cam footage to contact them.

Information can be reported online at https://www.essex.police.uk or via 101 quoting incident 139 of 27 January.

Epping Forest Guardian: The scene on the M25 near Waltham Abbey. Credit: Essex Roads PolicingThe scene on the M25 near Waltham Abbey. Credit: Essex Roads Policing

Meanwhile, traffic was held further along the M25 later in the morning because of a lorry fire.

National Highways said drivers were stopped at around 9.50am before being released around 25 minutes later.

The fire is believed to have now been extinguished, however two lanes are closed between junction 27 for the M11 and 28.

Epping Forest Guardian: Lorry fire on M25. Credit: National HighwaysLorry fire on M25. Credit: National Highways

National Highways said at 10.39am there is around five miles of congestion adding around 30 minutes to journey times.