A WOMAN was detained under the Mental Health Act after she was seen "running on the carriageway" of the M66.

A section of the motorway was closed in both directions this morning between Junction 3 for Hollins and Junction 4 at Simister Island, causing long delays.

Police from Bury North said: "We were called to reports of a female running in the carriageway.

"A 25-year-old woman was detained under the Mental Health Act a short while later with the assistance of North West Motorway Police, and is now receiving treatment in hospital."

The incident was first reported just after 9am when the woman was spotted walking down the hard shoulder.

Traffic was released around 10am but delays continued for some time after that, with disruption as far back as Junction 1 (Ramsbottom).