A STRETCH of motorway was closed for over a hour and a half yesterday evening as police dealt with 'a concern for welfare' incident.

The A666 between the M61 and Bolton, known as 'the Spur', was closed in both directions from just before 8pm on Sunday evening until around 9.35pm while officers were on the scene.

During that time traffic was diverted via the exit and entry slip roads at the junctions with northbound traffic will be taken off onto Kearsley Island and southbound traffic onto Manchester road.

A Highways England statement said: "The ROC log advises that the incident has now been resolved and the road has re-opened in both directions within the junction.

"NTIC systems and third party heat map data are showing no significant congestion in the area."

North West Motorway Police and traffic officers attended the scene to divert traffic and make the area safe.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that they were called out due to a "concern for welfare" but that they incident was safely concluded.

Officers have not expanded on the nature of the concern.

Highways England however have confirmed that the incident was not "injury related" and that no vehicles were involved.

They added that the effect on peak time traffic was only "slight."