A WOMAN who sparked a massive police search has returned home safe and well.

Police mounted the search for Andrea Christodoulou who disappeared after her car broke down on the south-bound carriageway of the M61 near Bolton West Services on Tuesday night.

Andrea, aged 27, from St Annes, called the police at about 10.30pm from a motorway telephone box, but did not request urgent assistance and by the time recovery services arrived 45 minutes later she had disappeared.

It is thought she was with a male relative at the time and her C-reg silver Volkswagon Golf was found at the scene containing some of her personal items.

A police search was launched, and a press conference was organised for earlier today. The search was called off when she returned home safe and well last night.