HOUR-and-a-half long delays hit the M6 northbound this morning after a lorry smashed into the central barrier.

Traffic was temporarily held between 7.15am and 7.45am in the roadworks area.

The lorry collided with the central barrier with the vehicle coming to a rest on the barrier and specialist recovery was needed to remove it.

Two lanes were closed from junction 18 for Middlewich / Holmes Chapel to junction 19 at Knutsford.

Congestion strecthed back to junction 17 at Sandbach and routes through Holmes Chapel and Middlewich were heavily congested.

The road reopened fully at lunchtime and jams have cleared.