Police incident stops traffic on M61 near Preston for over hour

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 08:58 · Archive

A police incident has brought northbound traffic on the M61 near Preston to a standstill, causing delays of over 80 minutes.

A police incident on the M61 motorway near Preston brought northbound traffic to a standstill during the morning rush hour. Traffic was stopped from around 7.20am on the northbound carriageway between junction 9 with the M65 at Clayton Brook and junction 30 with the M6.

According to traffic information, delays reached 78 minutes and were continuing to increase. The average speed for motorists on the affected stretch was just five mph. Congestion extended back to junction 8 near Chorley as drivers queued on the motorway.

Mottorists facing the delays sought alternative routes. The A6 towards Bamber Bridge saw very slow traffic as cars diverted away from the motorway. The southbound carriageway also experienced disruption, with delays of five minutes and increasing between junction 31 at Samlesbury and junction 30, where average speeds were 20 mph.

The police incident forced all lanes to close on the northbound side. No further details about the nature of the incident or what had caused it were provided by the outlets reporting the disruption.

As congestion mounted, traffic information services continued to update journey times. Motorists using the M61 were advised to expect significant delays and consider alternative routes where possible during the incident's duration.

How it is being reported

• M61 police incident brings motorway traffic to standstill near PrestonTraffic was held due to a ‘police incident’ this morning...Lancashire Post · 3 Nov, 08:39
• M61 police incident brings motorway traffic to standstill near PrestonTraffic was held due to a ‘police incident’ this morning...Chorley Guardian · 3 Nov, 08:39
• M61 LIVE updates as police incident causes over an hour of delaysDelays are 78 minutes and increasing after a police incident has stopped motorway traffic during morning rush hourLancsLive · 3 Nov, 08:39
• Live updates as all lanes stopped and 82-minute delays due to M61 crashAll lanes stopped on M61 near Bamber Bridge due to crashLancashire Telegraph · 3 Nov, 08:00
• Recap as lanes stopped and 82-minute delays due to M61 police incidentAll lanes stopped on M61 due to police incident. The incident was reported on the M61 northbound, near junction 30 of the M6Lancashire Telegraph · 3 Nov, 08:00

In this story: M61 · Preston · Clayton Brook · Chorley · Bamber Bridge

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log