HUNDREDS of drivers abandoned their vehicles on a major motorway after a crash brought Easter traffic to a grinding halt - with some playing football to pass the time.
Photos show motorists standing on grass verges and sitting on the central reservation barrier as they watched the kickabout amid lengthy delays on the M6 in Lancashire.
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It comes as motorists endured travel chaos over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
The M6 southbound is shut between junction 34 for Lancaster and junction 33 for Galgate.
Traffic has been held on the northbound carriageway to allow the North West Air Ambulance to land.
Diversions are in place southbound.
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Footage shows people stepping out of their motors to walk on the empty carriageway to enjoy a kickabout in the sunny weather.
Have you been affected by the M6 closure? Email ryan.merrifield@thesun.co.uk
Sharing a photo of people scattered across the road, one X user said: "Traffic closed on both sides for the past hour! Hundreds of people on the road! Wildest I have seen the motorway be!"
They added: "Really hope everyone is okay."
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Another person said: "M6 closed just north of Lancaster University, between junction 33 and 34.
"Reports of accident, motorway appears to be closed both directions at present.
EXCL Get out NOW before Easter getaway carnage gets WORSE, Brits warned as traffic jams, cancelled trains & flight chaos hit
"Multiple emergency vehicle sirens attending crash, too. Hope everyone turns out to be OK."
Travellers had to battle throughstrike-hit airportsand horrendous traffic queues on Friday, with roads forecast to be at theirbusiest for an Easter weekend since 2022.
Drivers were warned to set off early on their travels and toplan in advanceamid congestion on the roads.
Traffic was set to be at itshighest level in three yearsfor the holiday period, with a whopping 19 million travellers expected to make journeys, according to the RAC.
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Lunchtime on Good Friday was expected to have thelengthiest hold-ups.
Popular routes are likely to continue experiencing tailbacks across the weekend, including the A303 westbound toStonehengeand the M5 southbound J15 at the RAC tower north ofBristol.
Journey times are likely to be nearly an hour longer for both meaning some could be stuck in their vehicles for more than half as long as usual.
Gatwick Airport in London, Britain's second busiest airport, was facing strike action from airport staff, which could lead to around 50 flights being disrupted each day.
Over 100 Red Handling staff members are striking over unpaidpensions, late payments and “illegal” shift patterns.
The strike, organised byunionUnitewill affect baggage handlers, check-in agents and flight dispatchers working with airlines such as Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace.
Industrial actionwill take place until the early hours of Tuesday (April 22).
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Hundreds of holidaymakershoping to jet off from theUK's largest airportare likely to be affected.
Train travellers are alsoexpected to face major disruptionthis weekend, as more than 300 projects are underway across the railway network.
