A LORRY driver is fighting for his life after falling ill as he drove his vehicle along the M6.

His lorry left the nothbound carriageway of the motrorway near Junction 25 for Wigan and became lodged on the grass verge.

A six-mile queue has built-up and the jam is likely to continue for at least an hour. The emergency services are still at the scene.

The  northbound section of the motorway has been closed between junction 25 and junction 26.

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 6.20am to junction 24 to 25. It looks like a man in his early 60s had fallen ill at the wheel. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition."

Drivers are asked to follow the diversion that is in place or use the M60, M61 or M62 instead.