Drivers face long delays on the M6 after the motorway shut due to a serious crash.
The Easter Sunday traffic has been disrupted on the M6 near Lancaster after a collision, which has trapped hundreds of cars in a road closure.
Traffic is held after the motorway closed southbound following the serious incident between junctions J34 (Lancaster) and J33 (Galgate) this afternoon.
The southbound lanes are likely to remain closed for hours and motorists should use other routes, the police warned.
Footage shows shirtless people playing football on the deserted carriageway as dozens of motorists got out of their vehicles after becoming trapped.
One driver said the M6 has ‘turned into the biggest picnic spot in the UK’ after people were hanging out on the closed stretch of the road.
‘Wildest I have seen the motorway be,’ he wrote on X, adding that he hopes ‘everyone is okay.’
Many families are likely to be trapped within the road closure, drivers said on social media.
Lancashire Police said: ‘We anticipate that the road will be closed for some time, whilst we assess the situation.
‘In the meantime, we’d recommend delaying your journey and driving carefully, leaving plenty of extra time to get to your destination.
‘We’ll keep tabs on what’s happening, and we’ll update you here once the road is open. As always, thank you for your patience and stay safe if you’re out and about today.’
The northbound carriageway was also closed briefly to allow for the air ambulance to land at the scene.
Drivers in the area should prepare for 45-minute delays, National Highways warned.
Diversions have been put in place on nearby roads southbound, and drivers should follow the hollow square diversion symbol road signs from exit at junction 34.
National Highways said: ‘Lancashire Police are working at the scene of a serious collision on the southbound carriageway with National Highways Traffic Officers assisting with traffic management at scene and the closure point.’
Around 18 million journeys are expected on the UK roads today as Britons are on the move to make the most of the Easter bank holiday weekend.
However, if you are travelling over the weekend, look out for disruption across the roads, railways and flights, including at London Euston station and Gatwick Airport due to a strike.
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