A RAPID response fleet has been created by the Government to deal with congestion on the M25. The fleet will be on call 24-hours-a-day to clear away accidents and damaged barriers on stretches of the motorway.

Sixteen incident support units operated by repair firm Carillion aim to be on-site within 20 minutes of a call-out from the route stewards or emergency services. A special M25 call centre will be set up to deal with the calls.

An electronic tracking system will monitor the location of the vehicles. Route stewards from maintenance company Mouchel will keep a close eye on traffic conditions. The stewards will effectively be the eyes and ears of the Highways Agency, reporting back on network conditions.

Transport Minister John Spellar said the creation of the team would help reduce congestion and improve safety: 'As every motorist knows, removing obstructions from the road is vital to traffic flow. With over 200,000 vehicles a day using the busiest sections of the M25, being able to clear incidents quickly is essential to keep traffic moving on this important route.'

The six police forces that routinely patrol the M25 have formed an integrated policing group, which is working with the Highways Agency to develop guidelines for responding to incidents on the motorway.