A man in his 60s has died in a crash which shut the M11 near Stansted Airport in Essex this morning.

Police shut the motorway in both directions following the collision, which involved a motorcyclist and a small dark-coloured vehicle and happened at around 5am.

The rider of the motorbike died at the scene, Essex Police have confirmed.

Detectives also believe a dark-coloured vehicle failed to stop at the scene and need motorists with dash cam footage or information to contact them urgently.

The M11 is currently shut in both directions – northbound between junctions 7 and 8, and southbound between junctions 6 and 8.

Congestion is building for several miles back to junction 5 at Loughton with the M25 also struggling as it approaches the M11 junction.

The closure is also affecting traffic on the A120 westbound with two miles of queuing traffic from Stansted Airport to the M11 at junction 8, the Priory Wood roundabout.

A police spokesman said: “We anticipate the road will remain closed into this afternoon and we’re working with Highways England to re-open it as soon as possible.

“Diversions are in place and officers are working to turn around vehicles which are currently in the traffic.

“Please avoid the area and plan your journey.

“We’ll provide more updates when we can.”

Police particularly want to speak to people who saw a small dark-coloured vehicle in the area, or was overtaken by it.

Those who saw what happened or have dash cam footage should call the force on 101, quoting incident number 104 of today.