M6 LIVE updates: Woman dies in motorway horror as road fully shut by police

A stretch of the M6 motorway is fully shut this morning after the body of a woman was found.

Emergency services first raced to the motorway near Wigan in the early hours of this morning after 'reports of a person falling from a bridge', according to GMP Traffic. Tragically, a woman was found dead at the scene.

The motorway remains shut from junction 27 for Standish to junction 26 for the Orrell Interchange. Accident investigation work is ongoing on the scene, with a diversion route in place.

READ NEXT: Police guard house after emergency services swarm road near Trafford Centre

Traffic is 'very slow' up to the closure. Police said 'significant delays are expected in the area for the immediate future'.

GMP Traffic said in a post on X: "#INCIDENT | We're responding to reports of a person falling from a bridge on the M6 between J27 & J26 southbound. The road is closed while emergency services attend and significant delays are expected in the area for the immediate future. Thank you for your patience at this time."

A GMP spokesperson added: "At around 1.25am this morning (Friday 16 August 2024), we were called to the junction 27 of the M6 for a concern for welfare of a female. We attended the scene and sadly discovered the body of the female.

"The M6 southbound between junction 27 and 26 is closed while officers continue with their investigations. Significant delays are to be expected in the area for the immediate future.

"Thank you for your patience at this time. If anyone has any information about this incident or any footage, including dashcam, CCTV, or mobile phone footage is asked to call 101 quoting log number 171 of 16/08/2024."

A statement posted on the National Highways website said: "At around 02:00 the M6