Police issued a warning to motorists after a deer in distress saw part of the M57 closed.
Officers were contacted at 3.46pm after the animal, which was believed to have been hit by a vehicle, was found at the side of the motorway between Junction Three Knowsley and Junction Two Huyton. The road was closed for 20 minutes allowing for the animal to be humanely put down by staff from Knowsley Safari Park.
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Officers reopened the M57 at 4.40pm. National Highways said the incident caused four miles of congestion and urged drivers to allow an extra 45 minutes for their journey.
Danielle Williams on Facebook warned drivers to avoid the M57 as the traffic was "moving as fast as I am walking."
Kev Armstrong, who replied to the post, said: "Oh it's a deer in the road, me and a lorry had to block two lanes... we rang the police and had to stay with [the deer] until they got there. Then they stopped the traffic."
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