The road, just a few miles away in Bedfordshire, was also closed for several hours on Wednesday, northbound between junctions 11 for Luton and 11A for Dunstable and Houghton Regis, following a crash.

Two cars and two lorries were involved, and firefighters also tackled an unrelated lorry fire, which was part of the traffic caught within the closure, National Highways said.

The road was shut overnight for emergency resurfacing work and for pre-planned works to be carried out and has since reopened.