LIVE: Long traffic delays after M62 shuts both ways due to 'animals in the road' - updates

There are long queues on a section of the M62 in Greater Manchester this afternoon after both carriageways were shut following animals getting into the road. All traffic was stopped by police just before 4pm today.

Pictures show huge queues on both carriageways near junction 19 for Heywood. The motorway was shut in both directions.

At 4.20pm, travel services confirmed the motorway was fully closed. It said: "M62 in both directions closed all traffic being temporarily held, queueing traffic, stationary traffic due to police incident between J20 A627(M) J3 Rochdale and J19 A6046 Middleton Road (Heywood)."

Travel services later said the closure was due to 'animals in the road', with both carriageways re-opening by 4.45pm. There are still long trafic delays, however.

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A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "At around 12:15pm today, Greater Manchester Police were called to Hopwood Road, Middleton to reports of an aggressive bull which had escaped.

"For public safety, police closed the M62 resulting in delays in both directions. It has now been reopened.

"Specialist armed officers attended, and unfortunately due to the nature of the incident, the bull was destroyed as a safety precaution due to the risk towards people in the area."

The latest update from Inrix says: "Queueing traffic due to earlier animals in the road on M62 in both directions between J20 A627(M) J3 Rochdale and J19 A6046 Middleton Road (Heywood). All lanes have been re-opened."

The latest update from traffic service Inrix this afternoon reads: "M62 in both directions closed all traffic being temporarily held, queueing traffic, stationary