‘Animals on road’ shuts M1 motorway with rush-hour delays

Drivers heading to Leeds are facing major delays after animals reportedly wandered onto a main highway.

The M1 between Wakefield and our city is currently shut northbound due to the incident. Motorists are facing ‘severe’ disruption with queues of over 30 minutes at the time of writing (7.45am).

The problems are due to “animals on the road”, it has been warned.

M1 is disrupted by 'animals on road'

In a post on its online travel map, AA Traffic explained: “All lanes stopped and stationary traffic due to animals on road on M1 Northbound from J40 A638 Wakefield Road (Ossett / Wakefield) to J41 A650 (Carrgate).”

Drivers are being warned: “Severe delays of 33 minutes and delays increasing on M1 Northbound between J39 A636 Denby Dale Road (Wakefield / Durkar) and J41 A650 (Carrgate). Average speed five mph.”

The M1 is open southbound, with just the northbound carriageway shut currently.