Six people died and more than 70 were injured in two huge pile-ups involving almost 50 vehicles on opposite lanes of a Portuguese motorway.

Police said 24 of the injured were in serious condition, some with severe burns after two trucks and six cars caught fire.

The accidents occurred amid a spell of unseasonal rain and mist on the A25 about 150 miles north of Lisbon.

Almost 200 emergency workers, 70 rescue vehicles and two helicopters were sent to the scene after the crash late yesterday.