A MOTORWAY slip road was closed for several hours at the weekend after a heavy goods vehicle overturned on to its side.

The accident happened at Junction 2 of the M66 at Pilsworth at around 5.30am on Sunday (Aug 18). The wagon was making its way on to Junction 3 towards Manchester when apparently its load of turbo charges suddenly shifted, causing the HGV to topple on to its side.

A fire crew from Bury was called out to the scene to check the vehicle and to deal with a spillage of diesel.

Bury-based station officer Paul Myserscough said: "As the wagon was going round a bend on to the slip road, its load shifted. The driver was only going slowly at the time.

"We had to plug a diesel leak from the full tank. About five or six litres spilled out."

The male driver sustained a shoulder injury in the accident. The incident caused disruption in the area for a number of hours as the vehicle and its load were made safe.