Six teenagers face court charged with arson over huge blaze that closed M1

Six teenagers have been charged with deliberately starting a massive blaze at a scrapyard that caused a busy section of the M1 to be closed for days.

They are accused of arson in connection with the fire under an elevated section of the motorway in Mill Hill. It led to lanes being shut along a seven-mile stretch between junctions 1 and 4 in April.

Engineers said it was a "miracle" the bridge did not collapse because of the extent of the damage. The problems caused by the "unprecedented" blaze also led the Government to carry out an audit of roads and railways at risk of industrial accidents.

A total of 10 teenagers - including an 18-year-old girl - are charged with starting a series of fires in north London, including the one that shut the motorway. All were bailed to appear at Hendon magistrates' court next week.

Police said Luke Matthews, 18, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was charged with conspiracy to commit three acts of arson, including the M1 fire.

Johno Johnson, 18, of Edgware, faces charges of conspiracy to commit five acts of arson, including the M1 blaze.

Damien McQueen and Hannah Parker, both 18 and from Edgware, are accused of conspiracy to commit two acts of arson. Three 17-year-old youths and a 15-year-old from Edgware, a 15-year-old from Harrow, and a boy of 14 from Edgware, are also charged with conspiracy to commit arson.

The offences are said to have taken place between April 12 and 16.