Police shut the Herts M25 in both directions and made an arrest after reports of break-ins at a services station.

Emergency vehicles held traffic on the motorway between junctions 22 and junction 23 clockwise and junctions 24 and 23 anticlockwise, from around 11am to 12.30pm (November 26).

After lifting the closure, a Herts Police spokesperson said they had been responding to reports of a group of people breaking into vehicles at South Mimms services at 10.48am.

National Highways traffic camera image from 12.16pm (Image: National Highways) "Officers are in attendance alongside colleagues from the National Police Air Service and, due to outstanding suspect(s), road closures were put in place on the M25 at junctions 23 to 24," they said. 

"These have now been lifted."

One man has been arrested and is on the way to custody for questioning. Police are still trying to find the other suspects.

Queues are stretching from around Cheshunt to London Colney, according to Google Maps’ live traffic information, as of 12.30pm.

Image from 12.16pm.Image from 12.16pm. (Image: National Highways) Long delays remain at time of writing.

There is also knock-on congestion in nearby roads, including the B556 through Potters Bar, as motorists try to avoid the scene.