M6 Thelwall Viaduct: Clear-up continues after lorry falls 60ft off bridge

A "complex repair operation" has begun to fix a motorway bridge after a lorry left the carriageway and fell 60ft (18m) on to an embankment below, authorities have said.

The lorry dropped from Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 near Warrington, Cheshire, at about 18:50 BST on Monday.

Cheshire Police said the male driver was not believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries. Officers are investigating the cause of the crash.

National Highways said two of the four northbound lanes remained closed between junctions 20 and 21. It added there had been delays and six miles of traffic but the queues later eased.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters used specialist equipment to lower themselves down to reach the driver.

Crews then used water to cool the lorry.

They also contained a leak of about 220 gallons (1,000 litres) of bio-diesel from the vehicle's fuel tanks.

Police urged motorists to avoid the area.