A stretch of the M62 near Leeds was closed after a multi-vehicle crash involving a suspected stolen car and police tactical unit cars. Greater Manchester Police said officers responded to reports of a vehicle theft on Wilson Avenue, Swinton, at about 10.30am, and a police helicopter spotted the car on the M60 when it failed to stop.

The vehicle was chased onto the M62, where it collided with Greater Manchester Police tactical aid unit vehicles between junction 26 and junction 27, causing damage to them. Officers from West Yorkshire Police were working alongside the force during the pursuit. No serious injuries were reported, and an 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.S1

Traffic on the eastbound lanes came to a standstill between junction 26 near Cleckheaton and junction 27 for Birstall, with queues stretching back for miles past junction 25 near Brighouse. Motorists reported a car on its roof within the closure, and several players heading to a match between FC Farsley and Berry Brow were caught in the jams. Bury FC warned that the kick-off for its fixture was likely to be delayed, with a decision on the game to be made that afternoon.S1

Separately, a crash on the M6 near Ashton-in-Makerfield in Wigan shut the southbound side for around two hours on November 14. Police, fire crews and paramedics attended, and an air ambulance landed nearby but was not required. A vehicle overturned in the incident, and nobody is believed to have suffered serious injuries. The northbound side reopened while vehicles were recovered, and the motorway fully reopened at about 12.25pm, with National Highways reporting 27 minutes of delay on approach and two miles of congestion.S2