UPDATED: M56 reopens after eight hour closure near airport

Following reports of a man sitting on the cage of the motorway bridge near Manchester Airport this morning, police closed the motorway in both directions near junction 5.

Eyewitnesses described seeing the man standing on top of the bridge while police officers attempted to bring him down.

Considerable traffic tailed back on both sides of the motorway and there were severe delays.

all lanes re-opened on M56 both directions by airport - thanyou for your patience

— NW Motorway Police (@NWmwaypolice) September 5, 2015

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Due to the closure of the M56 (Saturday) there is congestion on routes into the airport. Please allow additional time for your journey

— Manchester Airport (@manairport) September 5, 2015

An hour sat in this...#M56 pic.twitter.com/2FsUC4FKCi

— Melissa (@11Melissax) September 5, 2015

people just piling onto the hard shoulder @ #m56 pic.twitter.com/y8YkhKvcj3

— Stocker (@Wowlywilly) September 5, 2015

Anybody heading to Boundary Park to watch #bcafc v #oafc via the M56 try to avoid. Road shut at Manc airport turn... pic.twitter.com/CrPnjd9MJN

— James Stables (@JamesStables7) September 5, 2015

#wafc #m56 Avoid the m56 as motorway shut both ways!

— Gee (@Tony_Gee21) September 5, 2015

M56 is a write off! Don't bother

— romy stazicker (@Romystaz) September 5, 2015

Been saying a long time that @manairport needs another motorway/duel carriageway to it not just m56 handforth bypass needs extending #m56

— Nigel Grififths (@nigelgriff22) September 5, 2015