TRAFFIC is still heavy on the M6 around Samlesbury after hours of holdups caused by a man threatening to jump off the bridge.

Both lanes of the motorway were closed today between junctions 31a and 32 from 11.10am.

Police said the man, who was on a footbridge between junctions 31 and 32, was eventually walked away from the scene by police at 3.10pm and the motorway was reopened.

At times traffic was queueing northbound as far up Forton as southbound down to Leyland. A Highways Agency spokesman said traffic was still moving slowly.