An arrest has been made after a prisoner absconded from jail - causing two major motorways to be closed for hours as a manhunt was launched.
All traffic had to be stopped from every direction of the M56 at the junction with the M6 northbound, as police attempted to track down Jonathan Simpson. The 40-year-old prisoner was last seen at nearby HMP Thorn Cross in Appleton, Warrington at around 9am on Wednesday (23 March).
Police confirmed on Thursday morning (March 24) that a man had been detained in Manchester and arrested. He is currently being held in custody waiting to be questioned.
READ MORE: Manchester Airport boss warns long queues will continue for 'weeks'
They confirmed they are no longer searching for Mr Simpson. Drivers were stuck in standstill traffic for hours on Wednesday afternoon as police scoured the area.
Motorists were spotted treating themselves to an ice cream in the middle of the motorway as many left their cars and enjoyed the nice weather.
In a video shared to Twitter by Ross Harper, he said: "No word of a lie, an ice cream van is serving ice cream, on the M56." He added: "I best go and get myself a '99."
He told the M.E.N : "We were stuck on the M56 for around three hours. I think somebody must have knocked on the ice cream van window asking if they could get an ice cream and then the next thing you know more and more people were rocking up to get one, I was literally in stitches when I was watching it happen."
The traffic was first held at around 6pm, and did not start being released again until around 8pm. There was a large police presence in the area.
Numerous officers and police dogs were deployed to help the search, with police said to have been maintaining a presence around the prison to provide reassurance to the community.
Sign up to our free newsletters here to get the latest headlines direct to your inbox.
