M6 traffic LIVE updates amid 10-mile queues and M61 delays following crash

Motorists are facing huge delays on two North West motorways following a crash on the M6. Traffic is tailing back for around 10 miles on the northbound side of the M6 this afternoon (August 11).

It follows a crash near junction 31 at Preston. Traffic is tailing back towards Wigan.

Drivers are also facing heavy traffic on the M61 northbound, heading from Manchester and Bolton towards the M6. A spokesperson for National Highways North West posted on X: "There has been a traffic collision on the #M6 northbound within J31 #Preston.

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"There are currently 60 minute delays and approx. 10 miles of congestion. Please plan ahead if you're travelling through the area today."

Further details about the nature of the collision are yet to be confirmed. Updates will be posted in this blog as soon as they are available.

This is a live event. Follow the latest updates below.

The M6 northbound remains 'partially blocked' following the earlier crash, according to Inrix.

Hour-long queues remain approaching the scene.

Traffic is currently crawling up the M6 near junctions 29 and 30 at just 6mph, according to National Highways.

Queues are also tailing back to junction eight of the M61 northbound.

Google data shows the current extent of the M6 and M61 queues.

Drivers are facing queues of around an hour on the M6 northbound following a collision.

Traffic is tailing back for around 10 miles approaching junction 31 near Preston.

It is affecting drivers heading north from Greater Manchester towards Blackpool and the Lake District, one on of the hottest days of the year.

It is also affecting drivers on the M61, with queues approaching the M6.

Further details