FLIGHTS have been delayed and traffic gridlocked after a van fire in tunnel near Manchester Airport shut one runway and roads

Shocking pictures showed smoke billowing from the tunnel earlier this evening, with drivers forced to abandon their cars.

The airport said seven inbound flights were diverted to other airports, as fire crews battled the blaze on the A538.

Emergency services closed the tunnel as motorists tweeted pictures of traffic at a standstill – creating travel chaos for holidaymakers.

The fire created a lot of smoke, which can be seen pouring from the tunnel in pictures.

Drivers were told to evacuate the tunnel, with pictures showing them abandoning their vehicles.

An eyewitness told the they heard loud bangs after the blaze broke out.

Matthew Cahill told the MEN: “I saw the van and lots of smoke.

“A few people were able to reverse out of the tunnel but I and about 30 other people were stuck inside.

“The fire service weren’t able to get to it straight away because it was blocked.

“Then we started hearing explosions. The tyres were popping and it was obviously amplified because it was in a tunnel.

“The smoke was so bad that we all had to stand outside.”

“I managed to back out of the tunnel in my car, but some people in cars in front had to get out of their cars and run out on foot.”

The tunnel was partially reopened at about 8pm this evening.

A Manchester Airport spokesman said services are returning to normal.

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