The Blackwall Tunnel will be closed for the rest of the day after a major fuel spillage which caused ten miles of misery for motorists earlier this morning.

Traffic was originally stopped just before 7am to recover a broken down motorbike, when contractors found a diesel spill that needed to be cleared.

The extensive spillage covered 3/4 of the tunnel - 1.1km in length - and Transport for London has said the surface is still too slippery to reopen.

Resurfacing is now underway in the northbound tunnel, which is expected to remain closed until at least 5pm.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL's chief operating officer for surface transport, said: "We apologise to drivers and bus passengers who have been affected by today's closure of the northbound Blackwall Tunnel and we are working hard to resurface the road as quickly as possible."

After looking through CCTV in the tunnel, TfL said the spill was caused by a crane being carried on a lorry and the authority will carry out an investigation.

News Shopper:

Contractors are still on the scene. (c.) TfL Traffic News.

And to add insult to injury, Blackwall Tunnel southbound was also closed for a brief period today because of a broken down HGV. 

The road from the tunnel is closed at the Sun in the Sands roundabout, with traffic diverted via Shooters Hill Road, in a bid to alleviate the traffic.

This morning reporting that traffic was at a standstill for over an hour and buses serving south east London were delayed by up to three hours​.

Congestion is reaching as far as the Sun in the Sands Roundabout in Shooters Hill Road and the Black Prince Interchange in Bexley.

Buses serving Lewisham, North Greenwich and Woolwich are facing delays of up to two hours due to closure of Blackwall Tunnel.

News Shopper:

The following routes are on diversion: 108, 132, 161, 177, 180, 188, 286 and 422.

Bus tickets and passes are now being accepted onthe DLR between Woolwich, Lewisham and Greenwich via Canary Wharf.