A HUGE lorry fire shut the M1 for much of the day, causing traffic misery for thousands of motorists.
The northbound carriageway was shut between junctions 22 and 23A following the blaze, which broke out at 8.35am.
Alternative routes became clogged up with traffic, meaning there was no escape from the mayhem.
It took more than eight hours to clear the burnt-out lorry and debris from the motorway.
One lane was opened after 11 hours, but the rest of the carriageway remained closed into the early hours as it had been badly damaged by the fire.
Motorists took to social media to vent their frustration.
Sonia Herbert, of Alfreton, told her followers on Twitter that her journey had been delayed by three hours.
She tweeted: "What a nightmare! Start work at 2pm – only just made it in time.
"Hate the M1!!!!"
Rhian Westbury tweeted: "Why does there have to be a fire on the M1 when I'm trying to get home from @DownloadFest? I need a shower and my bed! Ahhhh."
And on Facebook, Colin Butterfield, from Duffield, said: "Meant to be having lunch with my parents but they're stuck in the M1 chaos. Rubbish!"
There was confusion in the mid-afternoon when Leicestershire Police said they expected the motorway to be reopened in time for the evening rush-hour.
But this was quickly contradicted by the Highways Agency, which said the damage to the road surface meant it would be closed for the "foreseeable future".
The agency advised drivers to exit the motorway at junction 22, take the A511 and A42 before rejoining the M1 at junction 23a.
