A LORRY load of pigs caused traffic chaos after overturning near Stansted this morning.

A busy motorway had to be closed this morning after a herd of pigs escaped and ran on a carriageway.

The southbound M11 towards London was shut after a HGV carrying a consignment of 82 pigs crashed.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene of the collision at Junction 8 to discover about 12 animals had escaped from the lorry and were running free on the road.

A spokesman said that at 5.21am, the carriageway was closed while emergency crews tried to round up the animals and secure them in a makeshift pen.

end An Essex Police spokesman said about 50 of the animals, which each weigh about 20st, are still trapped in the wreckage which is blocking two lanes. The runaway pigs are now grazing on the embankment.

"The southbound carriageway has been closed at Junction 8 and the road is likely to remain shut for around six hours while recovery work and repairs to the central reservation continues," said the spokesman.

"The northbound carriageway has also been closed and could remain shut for about two hours because of fears that the pigs could cross from the southbound lane and be a danger to road users.''

He said the lorry driver received head and shoulder injuries in the collision and was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.