Lorry fire closes motorway in both directions
National Highways said the A1(M) in Hertfordshire was closed between junction two for Hatfield and junction three for St Albans.
It said there were delays of 30 minutes for motorists approaching the incident.
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue said it worked at the scene to tackle the fire.
National Highways said the southbound side of the carriageway reopened at about 16:32 BST, and the northbound stretch opened at 18:46.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
White tiger saved from war zone to get new home
Officials at a wildlife park say they are hopeful a refugee white tiger will arrive before the school summer holidays after DHL stepped in to deliver it. Lincolnshire Wildlife Park said the tiger, called Aleks, was found abandoned by medics and army volunteers in Ukraine last year and was dehydrated, infested with parasites and exhausted. After receiving medical treatment, he is now waiting to be delivered to his new home at the park near Boston. Steve Nichols, the park's chief executive, said: "I hope someone is in to sign for him. If they take a delivery picture and leave him near our bins it might give the neighbours a shock." The charity said it was first asked to rehome the tiger about six months ago and staff were "buzzing" for the arrival of the "special animal". "When they found him in the war zone, they thought he was dead. He's just been left and couldn't walk or eat. Now he's pulled through and is coming here," Mr Nichols said. "It's going to be something really special for us and for the park. He'll be the first white tiger to go on show to the public in Lincolnshire. We're just so excited to see him." In preparation for the tiger's arrival, the park launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the £100,000 cost of building a new enclosure. The park, which is already home to three Bengal tigers, is planning to create a new medical ward, swimming pool, play frame and enclosure. Mr Nichols added: "It's even going to have underfloor heating. It's going to be proper posh but these animals deserve it." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Sanctuary sees influx of 'difficult' parrots Wildlife park's star three-legged puma dies Lincolnshire Wildlife Park
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Residents plant own trees to replace dead A14 ones
People have taken to planting their own trees along the side of the A14 after the deaths of "a large proportion" of the many saplings that were originally planted. More than 860,000 trees were planted as part of the £1.5bn A14 upgrade between Cambridge and the A1, which was completed in 2020, but many died, and had to be replaced by National Highways. The company said between October last year and April, 165,000 trees and shrubs were planted and that almost 90% survived. However, Cambridgeshire County Council said it had not been told where the replanting took place, and some local residents had begun planting their own. About 270 hectares (670 acres) of habitat, including 40 native tree and shrub species, was created for wildlife along the new section of the A14, which realigned the dual carriageway south of Huntingdon. National Highways said in 2022 about about 20-30% of the trees had died but all were replanted. In a more recent statement it said: "Between October 2023 and April 2024 – the optimum planting season – 165,000 trees and shrubs were planted. "Our latest survey showed that nearly 90% of these trees have survived." However, people living along the road have taken matters into their own hands. Vhari Russell, who lives close to the A14 in Brampton and founded the rewilding group Creating Nature's Corridors, said: "If you are really passionate about something you can sit back and wait for other people to fix it, or you can try and fix it yourself." She said trees were vital to reduce the noise from the busy road and it was her mission to "plant more greenery to try to protect ourselves from it". "We had grown various different trees in the garden in pots and we've planted all of those into the bank - I think we've probably put in 150." Speaking about the failure of the initial planting, Ellen Thurman-Lavey, from Barcham Trees near Ely, said saplings relied on a number of factors to survive. "During Covid, many of us will remember that spring was really warm and we had a couple of hot summers after that," she said. "Those sorts of climatic events have a massive impact on that sort of planting because the rainfall is not there and the trees therefore don't get their root systems away and they struggle, from the beginning." She said without intervention - watering - it would be difficult for trees to thrive. Liam Beckett, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Brampton and Buckden, said: "We're asking them [National Highways] to do what they said they would do, which is to mitigate the negative impacts of this on local residents. "It doesn't seem a huge thing to ask." The scheme is to be discussed at a county council meeting later. The agenda paper states "trees initially planted by the A14 programme experienced high rates of death, and National Highways committed to a replanting programme". However, it also states that documents provided to the council's biodiversity team contained only basic information. "National Highways has stated that it planted 165,000 trees and shrubs between October 2023 and April 2024," the agenda says. "The council does not know where replanting has taken place, and the observations from officers traveling along the new A14 is that replanting appears to have been in a few limited areas." The council said it would continue to highlight the issue to National Highways. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Trees to be replanted by A14 after mass death Surveys carried out after road scheme trees die 'Large number' of road scheme's million trees dead A14 bypass section opens to traffic a year early Cambridgeshire County Council National Highways Creating Nature's Corridors
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Remembering the London victims known to have died in Air India plane crash
100 hours have passed since an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed, killing all but one of the passengers and crew. Among the 242 on board were 53 British nationals, with many living across London, and work has since been underway to identify the bodies, Here we remember those Londoners who have so far been confirmed as losing their lives on June 12. Air India flight AI171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International shortly after 1.30pm local time (8.09am GMT) and was scheduled to land at 6.25pm BST. But soon after take-off, the plane lost altitude and crashed into the city below, reportedly striking a doctors' hostel. Officials have also been trying to establish how many people were killed on the ground with the latest total death toll standing at 270. This includes mothers, fathers and children from Harrow, Waltham Forest and Redbridge, some returning to see or from visiting family. Search and rescue teams at the crash site (Ajit Solanki/AP) Arjun Patoliya Two children were orphaned when Arjun Patoliya was killed in the Air India plane crash after travelling to scatter his wife's ashes in her homeland, according to a fundraiser for the family. Mr Patoliya, 37, worked at furniture manufacturer Inspired Elements Ltd, based in Stanmore. He was killed 18 days after his wife Bharti had died from cancer, the GoFundMe page to support their daughters, aged four and eight, said. The Briton had travelled to Gujarat to fulfil his wife's 'final wish'. Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek Fiongal Greenlaw and Jamie Meek from a video shared on social media (Image: @Tik Tok)The couple, who ran Wellness Foundry spiritual wellness centre in Lambeth, are said to be among the dead. The pair, who also worked in Ramsgate, laughed and joked as they filmed a video of themselves at the airport before taking off. Sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi (Image: Family handout/PA Wire) Sisters Dhir and Heer Baxi, both in their early 20s, were returning home to London on the Air India flight after surprising their grandmother for her birthday. Speaking to the PA news agency, Ishan Baxi, a cousin who lives in Ahmedabad, said both women had an 'amazing aura' and wanted to 'roam the world'. The Girish family This family of four from Wembley are reported by the BBC to have been on the flight. Hemaxi Shantilal and her husband Girish Lagli are said to have been with their young children Aadiv and Taksvi Girish, with Taksvi sat on an adult's lap. Master Mohammed Adnan 🖤 We at Cann Hall Masjid are deeply saddened by the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives. 🕊️ Among the victims was one of our own — Master Mohammed #AirIndiaCrash #AhmedabadCrash #cannhallmasjid — Cann Hall Masjid (@CannHallMasjid) June 13, 2025 Master Mohammed Adnan had a wife and 11-month-old baby, the Leytonstone mosque he worshipped at has said. The Cann Hall Deen & Education Trust posted on social media: 'It is with great grief that we share the news that one of our own worshippers, Master Mohammed Adnan, was aboard the ill-fated flight. 'Our sincerest condolences are extended to his wife and their 11-month-old baby.' Panna Nagar Northfleet Nursery School in Gravesend (Image: Street View)Former nursery headteacher and Ofsted inspector Panna Nagar held her family together 'with her warmth and wisdom', her grandchildren have said. Ms Nagar headed Northfleet Nursery School in Gravesend, Kent, for 15 years from 2005. Ashok and Shobhana Patel This British couple was living in Orpington near the Kent-London border. They were on the plane returning home to their two sons, Miten and Hemit, their daughter-in-law Shivani, as well as two grandchildren, Amyra and Arjun, the BBC reports. Mariam and Javed Ali Syed and their two children Mariam and Javed Ali Syed and their two children, five-year-old Zayn and four-year-old Amani, were on the flight returning from a holiday in India, Ms Ali Syed's sister-in-law told the Telegraph. Mr Ali Syed is reported to have worked at a hotel in London while Ms Ali Syed had reportedly worked for Harrods for a decade. Speaking to the Telegraph about the couple's young children, Yasmine Hassan said: 'They are so small, they are five and four. And it's just thinking how scared they must have been.' Redbridge Council has also said that one of its residents died in the crash, although they have not been identified. Council leader Kam Rai said: "Whilst we await more details, I am aware of reports that a local person lost their life and family members of local people have also died. 'My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of all those affected." Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, is believed to be the only survivor of the crash. His older brother Ajay was also reportedly on the flight. Speaking outside the family home in Leicester, Jay, a relative of the brothers, said Vishwash spoke to his father after the crash and asked after his brother. Jay told PA: 'After the crash he spoke to his dad worrying about his brother saying, 'Where's Ajay'?'