Drivers faced massive tailbacks on the anticlockwise route as the motorway was closed after the crane crashed in the morning.

The Highways Agency said recovery of the crane will take place overnight tonight when traffic flows are lower.

It added: “The crane will require specialist heavy lifting equipment to recover, and the anticlockwise carriageway may need to be closed from around 20:00 this evening for the recovery operation to take place.”

The M25 was back to normal on Sunday morning.