ICE caused traffic chaos at rush hour in Bolton after the M61 was closed amid fears that it needed extra gritting.

A car careered off the southbound carriageway at about 7.30am on Tuesday after skidding on a patch of ice between junctions two and three.

One lane was closed as the carriageway was cleared, sparking tailbacks to junction six at Horwich. The driver was unhurt.

Police called to the scene then closed the M61 northbound between 7.40am and 8.40am until it had been re-gritted by trucks from the nearby Westhoughton depot. A Highways Agency spokesman said the motorway had been gritted on Monday night and yesterday morning, and that rainfall may have washed it away.

He said: “The road was closed for about an hour while contractors re-gritted.

“Although we do grit roads, people should be careful as there can still be ice.”