RUSH hour commuters faced delays of up to two hours this morning, after a man fell 30ft from a bridge onto the M61 carriageway. 

Police closed the motorway in both directions after a man fell from the bridge onto the road below, at 9.30am, near Chorley.

A mile-long queue of traffic came to a standstill near junction eight on the northbound carriageway as police attended to the incident.

An air ambulance landed close to the incident scene and commuter traffic ground to a halt, with queues up to a mile long in both directions.

The motorway was reopened two hours later at 11.20am, with slow moving traffic in the northbound carriageway.

Police are expected to release an update on the man's status later this afternoon.

Lancashire Police warned of "significant delays" as emergency services attended the scene and diversions were put in place.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We are currently dealing with an incident on the M61 near to J8.

"It is believed that a man has fallen from a bridge over the motorway.

"The motorway is closed in both directions. Diversions will be implemented but we are expecting significant delays. Please avoid the area."