Two women have been killed and a 10-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital after a lorry overturned on the M25.

The incident took place at around 11.20pm on Monday evening, between Junctions 26 and 27 on the southbound carriageway of the motorway in Waltham Abbey.

Police said an articulated lorry had been involved in a crash with an Audi and two women had been pronounced dead at the scene.

A 10-year-old girl and a man was later taken to hospital, where the child remains in a life-threatening condition. The man was not injured.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remained in police custody on Tuesday morning.

The incident caused major disruption on the M25 and surrounding routes on Tuesday morning after the road was closed off by emergency services.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service crews from Waltham Abbey, Loughton, Epping and Brentwood stations attended the incident to assist with making the scene safe.

The carriageway has since partly reopened, although drivers were still experiencing long delays well into Tuesday afternoon.

Traffic was also affected on other routes as drivers tried to avoid the M25, with congestion also building up southbound on the M11 and westbound on the A13.

Detective Sergeant Peter Swan, of Essex Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This has been a tragic incident and we want to thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

“It’s really important we establish what led up to this collision and need anyone with any information to come forward. 

“We particularly want to speak to any who witnessed the collision or who has dash cam footage of it or the moments leading up to it.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or email: collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.