Last updated at 09:29, Friday, 16 November 2012

A number of sheep were killed and others left running across the M6 following a crash.

The only vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident was a Land Rover pulling a trailer containing 20 sheep.

It overturned at the bottom of the exit slip from Southwaite Services, near Carlisle, onto the northbound carriageway of the motorway at about 12.15pm yesterday.

A lorry initially parked diagonally across the carriageway to prevent other motorists causing further disruption.

Cumbria Police said a number of farmers stopped to help round-up the sheep, which are understood to have been corralled into a field.

A number of the animals were killed in the accident.

Initially two lanes of the M6 were closed, but the road was reopened by about 12.45pm. “The incident caused substantial tailbacks,” a police spokeswoman said.

First published at 09:18, Friday, 16 November 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk