05/07/2012

Coach Stopped By Armed Police On M6 Toll Road

A coach has been stopped and surrounded by armed police on the M6 Toll motorway in the West Midlands.

A police source reportedly told BBC Radio WM that a passenger was seen pouring a liquid into a box, which then started smoking.

The motorway was closed in both directions between junctions T3 and T4 at Weeford Park Plaza, near Lichfield, at 08:20 BST.

Police said the Megabus coach carrying 48 passengers stopped on the hard shoulder "of its own accord".

A Megabus spokeswoman said the coach was heading south from Preston to London when it was stopped.

"We are assisting police with their inquiries into an allegation made against a passenger who was travelling on board one of our services," the firm's spokeswoman added.

The fire service, police from the West Midlands and Staffordshire forces and ambulance crews are at the scene.

The Highways Agency said the closure was likely to remain in place until early afternoon.

Diversions are in place and trapped traffic was being turned around, police said.

(H/GK)

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