M6 bridge propped up after lorry crash in Lancashire

A section of the M6 that was closed for most of Thursday after a lorry crashed into a bridge has reopened.

Both carriageways are now open between junctions 32 and 33 following overnight works to remove the HGV and install a bridge support.

Highways England tweeted it had "been working hard right through the night".

The crash, which happened at 06:45 on Thursday, cracked the cattle bridge's stanchion leaving the lorry as "the only thing holding it up", police said.

The lorry driver was taken to hospital but was "doing fine", officers said.

Some motorists told the BBC there was a lack of signage on Thursday alerting drivers to the closure, resulting in them being stuck in the jam for three hours.

Deborah Collier said her family missed their son's hospital appointment in Manchester.

"Traffic police were still allowing traffic to come onto the motorway from the A683 at midday at junction 34, knowing it was closed at junction 33," she said.

John and Chris Cox said: "Traffic management was appalling - they were still letting traffic join at Preston."

Robert Boak said: "If the crash occurred at 06:45 BST, why on earth did the signage have no mention of it farther north and south?

"There was no warning of what we were to encounter just past the Lancaster turn-off. From there it took us over three hours to get to the Garstang roundabout to then return home.

"Also, we and cars around us were not offered water as has been reported."

A Lancashire Police spokesman said it alerted motorists to the motorway closure with messages "posted across media, social media and online".

"In this instance, it is unfortunate but every attempt was made to keep drivers updated throughout the day."