Police have said a full motorway closure which lasted more than 18 hours yesterday and today was due to a crash.

The M65 was closed in both directions from 9.23pm on Friday, September 6, until just after 4pm on Saturday 7 due to a road traffic collision.

The motorway was shut in both directions between Junction 5 for Guide and Junction 6 for Blackburn, while officers dealt with the incident.

Highways England said just after 4pm the road had reopened and traffic was flowing smoothly.

LIVE: Motorway back open after long closure for crash

Police thanked motorists for their patience while officers carried out work at the scene.

Lancashire Police was contacted for more details about the incident but no further information has been provided.

It is unknown the nature of the incident, how many vehicles were involved, if any people have been injured, if any arrests have been made, or why the closure lasted so long.

Andy Fitzgerald, from Padiham, got caught in traffic near the incident, and said he was at a standstill for more than two hours.

Mr Fitzgerald, a chef at the Bobbin Mill in Buckshaw Village, said motorists had to turn around on the motorway to escape the blockage.

He said: "I was travelling home to Padiham and I got stuck in traffic for more than two hours.

"Police came knocking on car windows. We then had to turn vehicles around on the motorway where we were stopped in order to leave the M65. We came off at the Shadsworth junction.

"It was really bad and people were looking over the bridge to look at [the crash]."