LIVE: M61 shut with huge queues after 'car transporter overturns'

Part of the M61 motorway has been blocked after a crash caused a car transporter to shed its load.

According to traffic management site Inrix, the northbound carriageway of the M61 has been completely blocked after a car transporter overturned. The road has been blocked since 12.50pm after the crash, with some of the cars falling off the transporter and onto the motorway.

Two lanes of the southbound carriageway, lanes two and three, have also been closed past the incident. The crash happened between junction six for Horwich and junction eight for Chorley, with queues quickly building up to junction four, for Farnworth.

All traffic is being diverted via the solid triangle diversion route, heading through Blackrod, Adlington, and Chorley using the A6. Highways England are expecting the southbound carriageway to clear by 3pm, with drivers experiencing around 40 minutes of delays.

The northbound carriageway is currently expected to reopen by 3.30pm, with all traffic being pulled off the motorway at junction six. Emergency services are on scene.

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Drivers and passengers have found ways to keep spirits high whilst being stuck on the motorway as emergency services deal with the incident.

People from several cars have been interacting with each other on social media, finding small ways to entertain each other during the long wait.

One passenger jokingly offered to share a bottle of vodka she had in her car with other passengers, whilst a driver whipped his kettle out and asked someone with a motorhome beside him to boil some water for a brew.

Now I’m renowned for being the least shy person ever.Stuck on the M61 for ages so I just got my kettle out my case & got the folks in the next