A local haulage company made headlines for all the wrong reasons yesterday after one of its drivers was involved a crash which closed the busy M6.

MJ Griffiths of Tollgate Crescent, Burscough (http://www.mjgriffithstransport.co.uk/) is currently not naming the driver but at five o'clock yesterday afternoon a lady in its offices confirmed that she had spoken to the man and his family.

It's not known what caused the crash on the M6 southbound which shut the motorway on one of the hottest days of the year causing massive queues in and around Preston, Lancaster and the surrounding areas; Police are hoping to re-open both carriageways today after bridge surveys.

Hundreds of people were left stuck in sweltering heat after the crash, which took place between junction 32 and 33; the HGV was left a wreck of twisted metal after hitting and cracking the concrete stanchion of the bridge near Broughton, Lancashire, around 6.45am yesterday.

The driver suffered no life-threatening injuries but will remain in hospital overnight, Police said.

After an inspection, the crash was deemed so severe that the bridge was declared unsafe and the motorway closed in both directions; motorists were advised to avoid the area, with huge delays all day on the M6. M55 and M65.

North West Motorway Police tweeted that a bridge engineer confirmed the road closures will remain in place until workers can get the required equipment in place under the structure to fix it.