A closure has been put in place on the southbound carriageway of the M61 due to a lorry fire.
The HGV caught fire, along the carriageway between junctions 8 ( Chorley ) and 6 ( Horwich ) at around 4.30am today (Thursday January 28).
Emergency services including Lancashire Police, fire crews and Highways North West officers rushed to the scene of the incident, Lancs Live reports.
Two lanes of the southbound carriageway were initially closed, before the motorway was closed in both directions as a result of the fire.
A spokesperson for Highways North West said in an initial statement: "The M61 southbound J8 (Chorley A674 A6) to J6 ( Bolton North, Horwich A6027) 2 lanes have been closed due to a lorry fire. Traffic Officers & @LancashireFRS @manchesterfire are currently at the scene."
In a later update, traffic on the northbound carriageway was released and all three lanes reopened.
The southbound carriageway currently remains closed as emergency services continue to deal with the incident.
An update on traffic monitoring website Inrix at 7.40am stated: "Traffic is coping well.
"Congestion to the A674 and the A6 is slow in patches from Chorley to Blackrod as people seek alternative routes.
"Affecting traffic heading towards Manchester."
