No room for slip-ups! Artist creates creepy sculptures from bananas

These a-peeling sculptures are sure to make you go bananas.

The detailed works of fruity art - featuring the faces of Elvis and Davey Jones from Pirates of The Caribbean - are carved with a toothpick and a spoon.

But there's no room for slip-ups; each piece is completed in about half an hour, before the bananas start to rot.

No room for slip ups: Each piece is completed in about half an hour, before the fruit begins to rot

When the sculptures are complete Japanese artist Keisuke Yamada photographs them and eats them.

Since posting pictures of his monkey business online, the 23-year-old has developed a cult internet following and gets new ideas from his fans' suggestions.

He has made 11 pieces so far, including a dragon and ghoulish skulls.

More...

• A life in miniature: The artwork featuring tiny people set to sell for thousands

Mr Yamada said: 'I started making them about two weeks ago and since posting pictures of them online they have really taken off.

'It began when I peeled a banana and thought it might be interesting to carve a face into the fruit.

'The first one was the face of someone with a smile. I was surprised by how many people liked it so then I just started making more.

'People began to suggest ideas and that was what gave me my inspiration.

Monkey business: When the sculptures are complete artist Keisuke Yamada photographs them then eats them

'Before I set about sculpting I think long and hard about exactly what I want it to look like.

'Then I get to work. I want people to think they are interesting and not believe quite what they are seeing.

'I just use an ordinary toothpick and a spoon from my house. I'm a perfectionist, and a simple design take about half an hour.

'They can't take much longer because then the fruit starts to go brown and I enjoy eating them once the work is done and I've taken a photo.'

Mr Yamada, an electrician, said: 'I'm looking forward to making many more in the future.'

The Magnificent Seven: Meet the mothers who have all had babies in the same street in seven weeks

There must be something in the water in Crystal Wood Drive.

Seven neighbours all became pregnant at the same time – and gave birth within seven weeks of each other.

And now the mothers are all celebrating their babies’ first birthdays a year on.

Baby boom: The seven mothers of Miskin, south Wales who gave birth to their babies within seven weeks of each other

The women, from Miskin, near Pontypridd, South Wales, all gave birth at the same hospital, where midwives noticed they lived on the same road.

They were so impressed by the coincidence that they rechristened it Fertile Wood Drive. Teacher Nia Edwards, 34, set the ball rolling when her twin girls, Mali and Elen, arrived on April 10 last year.

Six of her neighbours all gave birth within the next seven weeks.

More...

• Now that's a stylish bump! Pregnant Jessica Alba turns rock chick in leather waistcoat
• Surgeons rebuilt our baby's skull: Little Finley comes up smiling after five major operations

Karen Hulse had Catrin, Kirsty Davies had Macsen, Jane Prentice-Jenkins had Brook, Sharron Bateman had Poppy, Jo Morgan had Ava and Angela Fomison had Harriet.

Kirsty Davies said it was ‘bizarre but brilliant’ that they had all been pregnant together.

‘When we found out how many of us were expecting at the same time, one of the girls invited us all round to her house for a get-together,’ said the 34-year-old, who also has a daughter Lily, three.

‘Now we all meet up at least once a week with the babies – we’ll go for a coffee or to the park. And we all babysit for each other, which is a great help for new mums.

‘It will be so lovely to see them all grow up together – it’s like an extended family.’ She added: ‘When I went into the hospital the midwives were saying, “Oh, here comes another one from Fertile Wood Drive”.

Timely arrivals: From left, Nia Edwards with Mali and Elen, Karen Hulse with Catrin, Kirsty Davies with Macsem, Jane Prentice-Jenkins with Brook, Sharron Bateman with Poppy, Jo Morgan with Ava and Angela Fomison with Harriet

‘We didn’t really know each other before – but we all do now. There are about 30 houses on the street so for us all to give birth within seven weeks of each other is quite impressive.’ The women have decided to send all the children – seven girls and one boy – to the same school in Llantrisant where they will share the same classes.

Mrs Edwards said: ‘I bumped into one of the girls from around the corner at a doctors’ appointment and we thought it was a big enough coincidence that we were both pregnant at the same time.To find out there were five more babies on the way was just brilliant.

‘We’re all great friends now – and with our very own little mother- and-baby group we hardly need to leave the street.

‘It’s also great for me, being the one with twins – there’s always six other pairs of hands ready to help me.’

The mothers are organising a joint first birthday celebration – on the day of the Royal Wedding. They will celebrate with a street party and watch the wedding on a big screen.

Mrs Edwards said: ‘It will be a street party with a difference – and hopefully we can get seven babysitters so we can celebrate into the night.’

Psychotic bunnies, terrified children and a man dressed as a 'rabbit of the night'..

Think of Easter and what do you get? Fluffy bunnies delivering baskets of eggs to delighted children? Springy lambs gambolling around fields - heck, maybe even a hot cross bun or four...

But, after viewing these pictures from the good people at Awkward Family Photos, Easter may never be the same again for many of us.

From a disturbing number of psychotic-looking rabbits scaring the bejesus out of small children (and a rather rotund cat) to a man who decided it would be fun to dress as a 'rabbit of the night' - there's something for everyone.

Something wrong kids? This is one Easter two children will NEVER forget

Mike Bender, a 35-year-old screenwriter who set up awkwardfamilyphotos.com with Doug Chernack in 2009, said he now gets submissions of interesting family snaps from people all over the world.

He added they rarely get complaints from unsuspecting family members, but when they do it's normally the sisters of brothers who have delved into the family album.

Here kitty kitty, nice kitty: Being placed on the lap of a 10ft bunny was not Felix's idea of a happy Easter thanks very much

Whaddya mean you want eggs? Two Easter bunnies battle it out for the 'most terrifying rabbit ever' award

The cat's whiskers: C'mon kid how about a smile for the man in the pink alien suit

Lapin horreur: One bunny looks like he needs to check in for Myxomatosis, left, while, right, one man decided it would be fun to dress as a 'rabbit of the night'

Not much of a hunt then...Two lucky tikes didn't have to look far for their Easter tree

He's here! Sorry the Easter bunny's late kids, he had to go and rob a bank first...

Reformed bunny? Thanks for the chocolate egg Mr rabbit man, can I go now...PLEASE

What the buck-ahhhh? The children had to make do with an Easter CHICKEN, left, while one guy takes a break from his rabbit duties, right

I come in peace: Two little girls aren't so sure of the hulking great rabbit towering over them

...And finally: A couple pose for a classic Easter shot - let's hope they got eggs rather than currants

The Passion of Michael Sheen: Hollywood star is 'crucified' in a marathon 72-hour hometown performance

Playing the role of Jesus would be a challenge for any actor.

But Hollywood star Michael Sheen has taken the role one step further with an extraordinary 72-hour performance, during which he stayed in character for the entire time.

And even at the end of the marathon performance, there was no rest for Mr Sheen - the climax of the play saw the ambitious actor 'nailed' to a cross and 'crucified' in front of a huge audience last night.

Hard act to follow: Actor Michael Sheen is crucified in the climax to the marathon production

Along with a mammoth cast of more than 1,000 people, Mr Sheen took the lead in a modern-day take on the story of Jesus, in The Passion, which was performed in his hometown of Port Talbot, South Wales.

The play, which started on Good Friday saw bearded Sheen emerged from the sea at nearby Aberavon beach, before he slept rough on a mountainside overlooking the town's giant steel works and power station.

The tale continued on Saturday with a re-enactment of the Last Supper, with beer and sandwiches at a social club in the town, and music provided by The Manic Street Preachers and Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts.

Spectacular: Sheen's The Teacher is silhouetted as he hangs on the cross in the dramatic climax of The Passion

Crowds: Thousands flocked to see the Hollywood star return to his home town for the ground-breaking production

Getting real: The actor stays in character as he walks through the streets of Port Talbot during the production

Last night, as the play finally drew to a close, the townsfolk gathered for the climax - the Crucifixion on the town's seafront in front of an estimated crowd of 6,000.

More...

• The march of 'aggressive secularism': Scotland's top Roman Catholic priest attacks marginalisation of Christians

Wearing a crown of thorns and with blood pouring down his face, Mr Sheen's character was paraded through the streets carrying a cross, before stopping at the seafront surrounded by stern police wearing riot gear for the finale.

Locals said it was the biggest thing to have happened to the town for years.

Passionate performance: The physically demanding role saw Sheen wear a crown of thorns as a modern-day Christ

Mr Sheen, who is co-directing the Passion Play, said: 'We wanted to use the whole of Port Talbot as our performance base and get as many people involved as we can.

'It's a real privilege and honour to be able to come to my home town, a town that has so much meaning to me and that I have had so much support from.

'I am so involved that it is one of those things that I will only really enjoy when it is all over.'

Realism: Michael Sheen is attached to the cross as he is 'crucified' in day three of the Passion play in Port Talbot

Touching moment: Port Talbot locals tend to Michael Sheen prior to his crucifixion on the seafront

Mr Sheen's father Meyrick - a professional Jack Nicholson lookalike - added: 'Port Talbot has never seen anything like this.

'This has been an enormous project and Michael has been working 24/7 here for the last 13 weeks in the run-up to the opening.'

Mr Sheen, 42, is no stranger to playing well-known characters - he has played Tony Blair, David Frost, Brian Clough and Kenneth Williams over the years.

Enlarge

On trial: Wearing a barbed wire version of the crown of thorns, the actor stands trial while guarded by police in riot gear

The cast of The Passion included a small professional theatre group and 1,000 locals, who all staying 'in character' throughout the three-day performance.

Yesterday's three acts were 'The Trial' in the town's civic square, 'The Procession' and finally 'The Cross' when Mr Sheen's character was crucified on the seafront.

An estimated 6,000 people watched the performance which also involved local choirs, amateur dramatic groups, and gymnastic teams.

Centre stage: With a bag over his head, Sheen is escorted to his trial

Unmasked: Sheen's character prepares to face his accusers

Locals hope Sheen's return will help to end the town's reputation for being crime-riddled, ugly and polluted.

Port Talbot has a rich heritage of producing Hollywood movie stars - Richard Burton and Sir Anthony Hopkins were born and brought up nearby.

And some hope it will ignite a spiritual awareness they feel is lacking in the town's young people, many of them unemployed.

Dramatic treat: With the production being played out in the streets of Port Talbot, locals and visitors were able to catch some free theatre

Mass following: Hundreds of residents volunteered to join the cast list, which consisted of 1,000 extras

Hetty Purchase, 80, with 18 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, said: 'I hope and pray that these three days will persuade youngsters to take a good look at themselves and change their ways.'

Another local Janet Griffiths, 48, said: 'There is an urgent need for a spiritual awakening in this town and I for one feel that The Passion can kickstart it.

'I'm impressed with the way it has brought the community together.'

Heavenly descent: Sheen takes the escalator in Aberafan Shopping Centre during Saturday's first act

Modern take: A skip stands in for the Gardens of Gethsemane

Retired council worker Jean Henry, 67, added: 'Michael Sheen is such a great ambassador for the town.

'Everyone I have spoken to thinks it's a wonderful thing that Michael Sheen is doing.

'Hopefully the message of The Passion with its modern slant will strike a chord with people.

'It's the biggest thing to hit Port Talbot for many years.'

Prepared for the part: The Hollywood star grew his hair and beard to play the Christ-like figure

Playing their part: The production was supported by hundreds of locals

Call centre worker Emma Landeg, 30, who lives on Port Talbot's notorious Sandfields Estate, believes the Easter spectacular, will put the town on the map.

She said: 'It might change people's views of the town for the better and make them look beyond the pollution and the grime and see there is real heart in this place.

'It's a working class town which has seen many downs in the past few years but hopefully this will help it to regain its pride.'

All the world's a stage: Sheen chats to children while still in character as he walks along the seafront

Stuntman dies when safety net fails in human cannonball show in front of huge crowd

Horrified families looked on as a human cannonball was killed when his safety net failed during an Easter Bank Holiday extravaganza.

The stuntman suffered catastrophic head and neck injuries when he hit the ground in front of a huge crowd at the Kent County Showground.

Eyewitnesses said the stuntman was fired up to 50ft in the air as part of Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show.

Dare devil: A performer at a previous Scott May's show shoots out of the cannon as part of the human cannonball stunt. Today's tragedy is believed to have happened due to a safety net malfunction. The 23-year-old man has yet to be formally identified

But the recoil from the massive barrel, which is attached to a 7.5 tonne lorry, appeared to make his safety net collapse.

Luke Adams, 38, who was watching the show with his children, said onlookers were stunned and confused by the accident as they did not know if it was part of the show.

More...

• Teenager sets girlfriend, 19, on fire while trying to light barbecue with a bowl of PETROL
• Boy, 11, plunges to his death from 30ft-high zip-wire ride that had only been open a week

He said: ‘It was absolutely horrendous. The net collapsed while he was in the air. As the cannon went bang the truck recoiled.

‘As it moved I could see the net drop to the ground.

‘He landed on the grass head first and continued to roll forward but then stayed on his back motionless.’

Another woman, who watched the show with her three-year-old son, described how the stuntman landed directly in front of her.

She said: ‘He was right in front of us and had blood coming from his mouth and was out cold.’

Stunt action: The Scott May's show has been touring the country since 1991 and boasts stunts including motorcycle jumps and monster trucks as well as the human cannonball. The Scott May's website states that all shows are cancelled until further notice

St John’s Ambulance medics rushed to the man’s side before an air ambulance and paramedics arrived at the showground in Detling, near Maidstone, at around 3.30pm.

The injured man, named only as Matt –who was aged 23 and said to be from the Isle of Man – was taken to Maidstone Hospital but died a short time later.

The family-owned Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt show, based in St Just, Cornwall, has been touring the UK since 1991.

It features motorcyclists jumping over giant ramps, stunts in which monster trucks crush cars and a two-wheeled driving display.

The show’s website boasts there has never been an accident in more than 20 years and urges spectators to obey safety instructions.

The human cannonball is one of the show’s highlights.

A stuntman is fired from an oversized barrel by the explosive power of hydraulic machinery, with pyrotechnics added to increase the drama.

Family event: Hundreds of day-trippers had flocked to the Kent County Showground in Detling to watch the bank holiday show. Bystanders said the man was knocked unconcious and had blood pouring from his mouth moments after impact

Once in the air, the performer aims to turn from his head-first position to land on the safety netting bottom first.

He must then scramble off the netting, which is about 10ft off the ground, before it collapses as the final part of the act.

The show’s website said those who undertake the stunt are ‘highly respected for their courage and daring’.

A spokesman for Scott May said all shows had been cancelled until further notice while an inquiry was carried out into what went wrong.

And a Kent Police spokesman said: ‘A man taking part in a human cannonball event this afternoon has died after it is believed a safety net failed to engage.’

Last night a Health and Safety Executive investigation was launched by Kent County Council.
The first human cannonball act took place in England in the 1870s.

Since then more than 30 stuntmen have been killed while performing, mostly by missing the net.

In one accident, in the 1920s, two performers crashed in mid-air with one breaking his back.

Body of 'dead alien' is found in frozen wastes of Siberia after claims of UFO hurtling to Earth... but is it an elaborate hoax?

It just seems too strange to be true.

But in the frozen wastes of Siberia two walkers claim to have found the body of an alien.

On its side with its mouth slightly agape, the slender, badly-damage body lies half-buried in snow close to Irkutsk, Russia.

The area is a known UFO hotspot and video of the alien's corpse has become a massive worldwide hit with hundreds of thousands of followers after being posted on the internet.

Alien life? This strange 'body' was discovered by two walkers close to Irkutsk, Siberia, in a renowned hotspot for extraterrestrial behaviour

Reports of aliens crashing to Earth as in the 1947 Roswell incident have led to images purporting to be of extraterrestrials (left) circulating the internet. Popular fiction and Hollywood films, such as ET (right), continue to tap into the public's appetite for stories and conspiracy theories around alien life-forms

The corpse of the badly-damaged creature which resembles ET is 2ft-high.

Part of the right leg is missing and there are deep holes for eyes and a mouth in a skull-like head.

UFO fans believe the body could have been left behind by ET visitors after an accident, or missed by Russian military alien experts clearing up after a crash.

The area is a known UFO hotspot with dozens of sightings reported every year.

It follows reports of a UFO hurtling towards Earth in the nearby Irkutsk region of Siberia one month ago.

'We couldn't believe it when we saw it. And what was spooky is that there was no sign of the spaceship. Perhaps that was taken away and the body overlooked,' said Igor Molovic, one of the pair that uploaded the video.

The clip has now been seen by nearly 700,000 people within a few days.

Cynics claim the video is a fake using a carefully staged model for the alien's body.

But one fan wrote': 'It's so lame how people always get thrilled by having another excuse to shout "Fake! fake!" every time something weird shows up. Unless proven otherwise, this is in fact plausible.'

'If this is fake - then they are masters at models/puppets. I think it's real - one of the very few, great vid.,' said another.

UFO fans believe the body could have been left behind by ET visitors after an accident, or missed by Russian military alien experts clearing up after a crash

The purported existence of aliens featured heavily in the hugely successful TV series The X Files, starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (pictured)

World's oldest man celebrates his 114th birthday - and says he plans to live to 120

• Jirouemon Kimura, from Japan, was born in 1897
• He has 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren... and 11 great-great grandchildren
  

The world's oldest man celebrated his 114th birthday today with a traditional meal - and says he plans to live until he is 120.

Japanese citizen Jirouemon Kimura had previously told local officials on his 113th birthday last year that his goal was to reach 120 and he has now confirmed 'that hasn't changed'.

He made his claim as he enjoyed the celebratory breakfast surrounded by family at his home in Kyotango in the west of the country.

Many happy returns: Jirouemon Kimura, the world's oldest man, is celebrating his 114th birthday today

They ate grilled sea bream with steamed rice and red beans as well as miso soup - a meal typical of a special occasion in the country.

He then fielded questions for 50 minutes, where he was described as alert and lucid.

More...

• 'Never be afraid to die, because you are born to die': World's oldest man passes away at the age of 114

The former postal worker said he was extremely moved that he was the world's oldest man following the death of the previous record holder last week.

'It is a great honour, and words alone cannot describe my feelings,' Kimura told city officials.

Enlarge

Plenty of presents: Mr Kimura kneels among floral gifts he received at his family home in Kyotango - where he also enjoyed a birthday breakfast

MILESTONES IN JIROUEMON'S JAPAN

1904: Russo-Japanese War

1910: Japan takes over the Korean peninsula and rules it for 35 years

1914: Japan joins Allied forces in WWI

1923: The Great Kanto Earthquake, one of the worst quakes in world history, destroys Tokyo and Yokohama. More than 140,000 people are killed.

1926: Hirohito becomes emperor

1931: Japan invades Manchuria, China

1940-1941: Japan becomes an ally of Germany and Italy in World War II. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, the U.S. naval base in Hawaii

1945: The U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders

1964: Tokyo hosts Summer Olympics

1995: Major earthquake hits central Japan

2011: Massive earthquake and tsunami strike north-eastern Japan

'I take it as a sign from heaven and am deeply moved.'

Mr Kimura said his secret was to eat sparingly, stopping when his stomach was about 80 per cent full.

He added that he had not heard about the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeast coast on March 11, calling it a 'horrendous event'.

Born on April 19, 1897, Mr Kimura worked at the post office for about 40 years before turning to farming after his retirement, continuing until the age of 90.

He had seven children, of whom five are still alive, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Kimura now spends most of the day in bed except when he eats three times a day.

According to the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, Mr Kimura is the world's oldest man since Walter Bruening, a retired railworker, died of natural causes in the U.S. state of Montana last week.

The world's oldest person is a U.S. woman, 114-year-old Besse Cooper, according to the group.

She was born on August 26, 1896.

Flat out on the M1! The man who decided to do his IRONING on the motorway (which will not now be open in time for Easter)

• Overpass needs urgent repairs after blaze weakened it
  
• Residents evacuated after fears that gas cylinders could explode
  
• Thousands planning extended Easter break affected
• Boris Johnson questions the 'madness' of the extended closure
  

It brings new meaning to going 'flat out' on the motorway. A man wearing a blue dressing gown and slippers made the bizarre decision to do a spot of extreme ironing in the central lane of the M1 this morning.

Thankfully there was no chance of the mystery man being run over, as it was on the southbound section closed off to vehicles over the weekend following fire damage.

The bare-legged man was captured pressing a white shirt at around 9am by a surprised ITN cameraman who had been covering the M1 closure.

Enlarge

Morning chores: A mystery man chose to take his ironing out on to the M1, which is still partially closed following a scrapyard fire

It was all part of an extreme ironing stunt where people do a spot of ironing in bizarre or remote locations for fun.

According to the official website, extreme ironing is 'the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt'.

It comes as Transport Minister Mike Penning confirmed the major traffic corridor may not fully reopen until late this week.

Mr Penning made the announcement yesterday as the Highways Agency faced criticism over the closure.

London Mayor Boris Johnson described the closure as 'health and safety madness' and questioned whether the Highways Agency had acted quickly enough.

His spokesman told the Evening Standard: 'He would never override anybody who says it isn't safe but he questions are we moving fast enough? Do we need to close the whole thing?

'As always with these things - as with the ash cloud - what he suspects is not foremost in the minds of those doing their analysis is the sense of urgency. Not just the disruption to people's lives but also the impact on the economy.

But he added that Mr Johnson 'does not underestimate that this was serious and that they're right to take the extensive action'.

With drivers planning to use the road to get to and from Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and yesterday’s London marathon, tens of thousands were forced to find alternative routes.

Now scroll down to see the video report

Jams: The M1 could remain blocked until the middle of the week

Two M1 northbound lanes were re-opened over the weekend but the motorway will not be fully opened until next week

The Highways Agency said today that all southbound lanes between junctions one and four will remain closed 'until further notice'.

The chaos followed a blaze at a scrap-yard under an elevated section of the motorway on Friday morning.

The fire caused significant damage to a road bridge’s structure and forced the closure of junctions one to four. One northbound lane reopened on Saturday evening and a second northbound lane was opened yesterday.

More...

• Wrong arm of the law: Woman driving to dying mum arrested for crime she didn't commit... then finds car's been stolen when police release her SIX hours later!
• A right royal traffic jam: Wedding bank holiday weekend will be the 'busiest in years'

One southbound lane could open during the night and a second in the early hours of this morning, the minister said.

But the full three lanes of each carriage-way may not reopen until ‘the middle to the end’ of the week, he said, causing Easter traffic misery because parts of the structure remained unsafe.

Mr Penning told Sky News: ‘The bridge has been damaged by the fire quite badly and that means we have to make sure it’s safe for the motorist and safe for our workers underneath the bridge.’

He said the hard shoulder had been particularly badly damaged by the fire. Engineers were working to make the bridge stable enough to carry the weight of traffic.

The southbound carriage, however, remained closed throughout Sunday

Flames: Firefighters tackle the blaze which ripped through a scrapyard under the M1 in north London

Advising motorists to use alternative routes, the minister added: ‘I’m very conscious that if people think the motorway is open tomorrow and we only have a couple of lanes, we will have congestion.

‘So what I’m saying to them is, only use the M1 if you have to.’

Earlier, he told BBC News: ‘It is going to be a frustrating time (for motorists) but the key is their safety.
‘It’s not safe at the moment and that’s why it’s not open.’

He said police were investigating the fire at the scrapyard, in Mill Hill, North London.

It also caused chaos for thousands of football fans travelling home from the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley as well as the Bolton vs Stoke game.

The Highways Agency said today: 'Engineers worked through the night to try to reopen southbound lanes.

'We are working in very difficult conditions in a confined space and have encountered unexpected difficulties in manoeuvring some of the large and heavy equipment required to reinforce the bridge deck.'

Deserted: The M1 was closed amid fears that gas cylinders near the scrapyard fire could explode

Trouble ahead: The coned-off M1, with the scrapyard where the fire started circled

The spokesman did not know how much the work would cost to make the bridge safe.

More than 40 firefighters battled to stop the flames spreading to nearby gas cylinders and up to 50 local residents were evacuated.

Officials had initially hoped that the country's main motorway would be re-opened by lunchtime today.

She said the southbound carriageway would remain shut between junctions one and four 'until it is safe to be reopened'

Engineers were today continuing to assess the damage caused to the motorway by the blaze, forcing it to stay closed for seven miles in both directions between junction one and four.

Firefighters douse the scrapyard in water amid fears that gas cylinders stored nearby could explode with the heat

With higher traffic volumes anticipated today the closure is likely to cause problems for those leaving London for an Easter holiday.

A spokesman said its engineers had been given access to the site of the fire underneath the motorway and would be assessing the extent of the damage.

They added: 'Depending on the results of the investigation, we will open the M1 as far as it is safe to do so.'

London Fire Brigade said the fire had worsened after crews arrived and a temporary hazard zone had been set up in case the cylinders explode in the heat.

The closure of the motorway one of the main routes into London from the North, has affected hundreds of fans flocking to Wembley for the FA cup semi-finals.

Emergency: The scrapyard fire worsened after fire crews arrived early this morning

Firefighters continue to cool the yard with water. Residents nearby were evacuated in case of an explosion

Drivers who had planned to use the M1 may be rerouted onto the M6 and M40, increasing the possibility of heavy congestion.

Many more drivers who had been planning a bumper 17-day holiday, including back-to-back weekends and the Royal Wedding, could also be affected.

The M1 remained empty after the fire at the scrapyard closed a section of the motorway

The M1 closure comes after motoring groups warned of congestion at the beginning of the extended Easter break.

'This is definitely the start of the main getaway. It is the big build up now for Easter,' Paul Watters from the AA told The Times even before the blaze closed the M1.

On Twitter, motorist Andrew Crozier wrote: 'Stuck on the M1 for 4 hrs.' Another driver, Morafi, tweeted: 'Stuck on the M1 heading towards London — massive delays. Avoid.' And James Bugelli reported: 'People are getting out of their cars.'

A spokesman for travel news organisation Trafficlink said: 'The cylinders have been made safe and staff are now inspecting the bridge for serious damage. Depending on how badly damaged the bridge is, there is a possibility it may not reopen until tomorrow.'

Station manager Dave Bird said: 'The scrapyard is close to a residential area so a number of people have been evacuated as a precaution. We're obviously aware this is causing some disruption so our crews are working really hard to bring the flames under control.'

The Highways Agency said it was assessing the M1 viaduct structure near the site to see if there was any severe damage, and diversion routes were put in place.

A spokesman said: 'We are working as fast as we can to reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.'