BREAKING: M61 closed due to 'ongoing police incident'

Part of the M61 motorway through Bolton has been closed due to an 'ongoing police incident'. The southbound carriageway between junctions four for Farnworth and junction five for Westhoughton has been shut.

Diversions have been put in place, but traffic is building up.

North West Motorway Police tweeted: "We are in the process of closing the M61 SB at J5 due to an ongoing incident. A diversion route will be in place to allow traffic to re-join at J4."

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A message on the Traffic England website says 'normal traffic conditions' are expected to return by 10.30pm.

Follow our live blog below for updates...

UPDATE

The #M61 remains CLOSED southbound between J5 & J4 near #Bolton due to a @NWmwaypolice led incident.

Diversion route details are available here: https://t.co/oszhkj4m66

Delays on approach are currently adding at least 20 minutes to journey times.#GreaterManchester pic.twitter.com/RGLvEG1uf3

St Helen's Road, over the M61, is cordoned off from Plodder Lane to the Red Lion pub. Several police vehicles and firefighters are at the scene.

This is the current situation with congestion according to Traffic England. There's stationary traffic backed up to junction six

INCIDENT

The #M61 is CLOSED southbound between J5 & J4 near #Bolton due to a police incident.@NWmwaypolice are in attendance and leading incident response.

Please plan ahead and expect delays on approach #GreaterManchester pic.twitter.com/AwhEq8jl9r