MOTORISTS on Warrington’s surrounding motorways were hit with traffic headaches every day last year, according to latest figures.

A Freedom of Information request has found there were lane closures on the M6 on all 365 days in 2013 and for 358 days on the M62.

It puts the M6 at the top of a motorway hell table alongside the M1, M4, M5 and M25 all of which did not operate at their full capacity on any day last year.

In contrast motorists were least lumbered with lane closures on the M58 and M65 in Lancashire with only 55 and 40 days of closures during the same period.

The figures from the Highways Agency, obtained by motor insurer swiftcover.com, include a dramatic crash on the M6 in October last year at the Lymm interchange causing both carriageways to shut.

We reported at the time a Ferrari travelling northbound smashed into the back of an Audi causing it to hit the central reservation and fly onto the other side of the motorway into a lorry.

And it was not just in 2013 motorists were hit with delays as earlier this year the M62 was brought to a standstill after a lorry-load of chickens crashed into the safety barrier between Birchwood and Eccles causing more than 11 hours to clear.

Last month a serious crash also caused both lanes of the M62 to close at Birchwood during the rush hour as emergency services waited for an air ambulance to arrive.

Miraculously, police confirmed nobody involved suffered serious injuries.

Overall the figures found nationally more than a third of motorways had lane closures for at least six months while a quarter were fully open for 25 days or less.

A spokesman from swiftcover.com added: "Motorists can expect an increase in motorway road works during 2014 as a result of the Government's £317m 'pinch point' programme.

"This ambitious programme includes 123 extensive road works projects across the UK. However, less than a quarter of these have so far been completed."

A Highways Agency spokesman said more than £24 billion was being invested in the country’s roads up to 2021.

He added: "This will ensure we have a strategic road network that is fit for the future and can accommodate the millions of drivers who use our motorways every year.

"Work is planned very carefully to minimise disruption as far as possible and to ensure the safety of road users and roadworkers.

"While we recognise people's journeys may be delayed as we carry out these vital improvements, ultimately this level of investment is good news for drivers, who will experience smoother and more reliable journeys in the longer term."