A MAJOR motorway has been closed this morning in both directions after a concern for safety of a man on a bridge.

West Yorkshire Police was called to the M62 at 6.05am today to reports of a concern for safety involving a man on a bridge.

Officers from West Yorkshire Police rushed to the scene and closed the motorway in both directions between junction 24 (Ainley Top) and junction 25 (Brighouse), in response.

Initially there was no estimated reopening time, but the process to remove all the closures began just after 8am when the man was confirmed to be safe.

Traffic had been stationary in both directions, with vehicles held by police from around 6.20am on the westbound carriageway and 6.50am on the eastbound carriageway.

Vehicles caught in the closure began to be turned round and escorted off the motorway by officers at 7.45am.

There was congestion stretching back 6.7 miles to junction 27 (Gildersome) on the westbound carriageway, with three miles of traffic on the eastbound carriageway, stretching back beyond junction 23 (Huddersfield).

Highways Officers were also reporting delays through Huddersfield and Brighouse as people diverted around the closure.

Vehicles were being diverted via the A644 and the A629 through Huddersfield.

Highways England said on Twitter at 8.13am that the motorway had been fully reopened.

There will continue to be delays for the next few hours while the queues clear.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk