Woman fights for life after M61 incident near Farnworth

The southbound carriageway was closed between junction 5 for Westhoughton and junction 4 for Farnworth after a police incident was reported at 7.35am.

Police confirmed the woman was injured following reports of a concern for welfare.

The road closure caused severe delays throughout the morning, with all traffic temporarily held in both directions.

A spokesman for National Highways said: “The M61 in Greater Manchester is closed southbound between J5 (Westhoughton/ Bolton) & J4 (A6) due to a police led incident.

“Traffic is stopped northbound between J4 & J5. Emergency services are in attendance.”

Traffic monitoring service Inrix also reported “severe delays” and a full closure on the southbound side from J5 to J4 during the incident.

Northbound traffic was released shortly before 9am, but southbound lanes remained closed until just before 10.25am.

A diversion route was put in place during the closure, directing motorists off the M61 at J5 onto the A58 eastbound, then south onto the A6, before rejoining the motorway at J4 via Watergate Lane.

The M61 southbound has now re-opened, and traffic has returned to normal.

No further updates on the woman’s condition have been released.