A motorway slip-road which has been blocked since this morning should be re-opened before rush hour, a police officer has said.

The slip-road on to the anti-clockwise M25, at junction 18, has been blocked since 7.30am after a lorry rolled onto its side.

PC Tony Saunders said recovering the vehicle, which was carrying sweets, milk and other “perishable goods”, has been made difficult by the weight of the cargo.

He said: “The body of the actual unit is not as strong when you have got a five tonne load in it and it is on its side.

“They have gone to try and lift it and the bodyweight has pulled it away from this [the point where the load is attached to the lorry].

The lorry had just made a delivery at a petrol station in Chorleywood, when it went to re-join the motorway.

The lorry was the only vehicle involved and the driver did not receive any injuries.

A roadside barrier and a lamppost were damaged in the incident.