Several motorway lanes had to be closed after a lorry driver suffered a “medical episode” at the wheel.

The incident happened on the M61 between junctions 5 and 6 at around 9.40am on the morning of Wednesday September 6.

North West Motorway Police and Greater Manchester Police were called to the scene.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “It appears a lorry driver has suffered a medical episode at the wheel.”

Police confirmed that the lorry driver was taken to hospital but that no one else was injured and the incident had not been referred to the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

National Highways confirmed that two of three lanes between junction 5 and 6 were closed because of the incident.

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Road users were warned about congestion with delays of up to 30 minutes building up as emergency services dealt with the incident.

The affected area included a stretch of road between the Hunger Hill Interchange and the Horwich Interchange on the western side of the borough of Bolton often used by people travelling in and out of the town.

National Highways announced that lane 2 on the road was reopened just before 11am but that lane 1 was still closed as of around midday.