A SERIOUS accident on the M62 has caused long delays today, Tuesday, after an overturned vehicle closed the motorway in both directions.

All but one lane of the westbound carriageway reopened at 8.30pm.

It had been closed between junction eight at Burtonwood and seven at Rainhill for most of the afternoon to allow investigation work to be carried out. 

The slip road onto the westbound motorway at junction nine at Winwick was also closed in an attempt to relieve the congestion.

It is now open again.

Roads across Warrington were heavily affected by the problems with delays reported across the town.

Cheshire Police have confirmed that a woman was rushed to hospital by air ambulance with injuries which are believed to be serious.

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Her family are currently being supported by specialist police officers.

Three fire engines attended the scene and cut the woman from her car, which was left on its side after leaving the road.

The incident occured near to junction eight at Burtonwood at around 3.15pm.

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Traffic was temporarily blocked in both directions in order to allow the air ambulance to land, but the eastbound carriageway soon reopened.

Long delays were reported for four miles back to junction 10 at Croft on the westbound stretch, with queues of around 15 minutes eastbound.

Runcorn and Widnes World:

Delays also affected roads around the town centre as traffic diverted through Warrington, especially on Winwick Road and Sankey Way.

While Liverpool's FA Cup game with Shrewsbury was delayed to give fans a chance to arrive on time.