A man has died after sustaining fatal injuries on the M61.

The rush hour incident shut the motorway in both directions.

Emergency services were called to the motorway between junction four, Watergate Lane, and junction five, Hunger Hill.

They were called at around 8.30am.

By 8.45am both carriage ways were completely closed.

The northbound side was reopened around 15 minutes later, however the southbound remained closed while police carried out their investigations.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 8:30am this morning (12 October 2022), officers were called to on incident near junction 5 on the M61."

The spokesperson confirmed that the man has died from the injuries he sustained and more information will be released once his next of kin have been traced and informed. 

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

READ MORE: M61 police incident closes both carriageways

Highways North West were also on the scene and help to set up a diversion route in a bid to minimise the congestion on the busy motorway.

Gradually, police began reopening the southbound road.

Just before 10am they began to allow traffic to go through lane three.

Lane two was then reopened an hour later, then just before 12.30pm the road was fully open again.

One motorist said there were long delays on the M61 near Farnworth heading towards Manchester.

The driver added: "At the bridge near Four Lane Ends there was a cordon in place with a police van and there were police under the bridge with green stands up stopping the public from seeing.

“When I went past at around 10.45am they were releasing the traffic.”

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