Overview

• Police have shut the M61 in Lancashire in both directions between J8 (Chorley) and J6 (Horwich) with no reopening time provided.
• National Highways says traffic officers are managing closures and advises motorists to plan ahead or consider alternative routes.
• Signed diversions are in place: a hollow square for southbound traffic via the A674, A6 and A6027, and a solid triangle for northbound traffic via the A6 and A674.
• A separate multi-vehicle collision on the M5 northbound between J22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and J21 (Weston-super-Mare) has left two lanes closed during recovery.
• Inrix reports severe delays with around nine miles of congestion back toward Bridgwater, and National Highways warns of delays of up to three hours.