All traffic was brought to a complete standstill on the M62 on Thursday evening after a flock of lambs from a nearby field wandered onto the carriageway. The incident caused traffic cops to completely hold all drivers for around 30 minutes shortly after 8pm.
Lanes were shut in both directions from Junction 11 (Birchwood) to J12 (Eccles Interchange). Highways England first announced the news at 8.30, and confirmed that due to 'animals on the network', all travellers had to be temporarily held whilst they were escorted from the motorway.
However, in a response to a trapped driver, Highways North West said: "A number of lambs from an adjacent field are on the network. Traffic Officers are working to clear the scene as quickly as possible." Around three miles of congestion quickly built up during the closure.
