M62 held up after lorry drivers involved in scuffle

Two lorry drivers were involved in a scuffle at the side of the M62 motorway - with cars on the other side crashing as they drove past.

Police say two separate smashes were responsible for rush-hour delays on one of the busiest days of the year, the "great getaway" after the end of the school year.

Police are investigating whether the second crash may have occurred as a result of 'rubbernecking' - people slowing down to look at the incident on the opposite side.

The drama unfolded on the M62 at around 3.45pm on Friday after two HGVs were involved on the eastbound carriageway near junction 21 for Milnrow.

GMP say they were first called to reports that someone had been assaulted.

When officers attended they found the lorries had been involved in a collision, and that the two male drivers had been involved in a confrontation afterwards.

Officers quickly diffused the situation and stopped traffic while they dealt with the aftermath. No arrests were made.

Paramedics attended as the men were reported to have suffered injuries. They were checked over but neither required hospital treatment.

However, the commotion was followed just 20 minutes later by a second, separate smash on the opposite side.

Four cars were involved in the pile-up on the westbound stretch near junction 22 for Oldham/Denshaw at 4.05pm.

The driver of one of the cars abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene. It is believed he may have got into another car on the motorway which then drove off.

Firefighters already on the scene attended to the occupants of the other three cars. However, it is understood no-one was seriously injured. The missing driver has not yet been located.

Traffic was held for around 40 minutes on the eastbound side while the vehicles were recovered and carriageway cleared and all lanes were re-opened after an hour.

However, at the height of the incident, the motorway was completely gridlocked with queues stretching back more than 10 miles, including back onto the M60.