MOTORISTS in East Lancashire have been told to brace for gale-force winds which are expected to last from tonight into tomorrow morning.

Road users across East Lancashire are being urged to check the weather and driving conditions before setting out on journeys after the Met Office's warning.

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High winds, including westerly cross winds affecting north to south routes like the M6 and the A56 in East Lancashire, are forecast for between 11pm tonight and noon tomorrow.

Wind speeds of between 60mph and 70mph are possible according to the forecaster and gale-force winds also tomorrow night and into Saturday.

The Highways Agency has issued its first amber alert for the New Year for tonight and tomorrow morning’s weather – with drivers of high-sided vehicles and other vulnerable vehicles such as caravans and motorcycles being urged to avoid using exposed sections of motorways and other routes across the north.

Locations in the North West potentially affected by gusts overnight tonight and throughout tomorrow morning include:

• M53 J1-J2 Wallasey to Birkenhead

• M56 J12 Runcorn and Sutton Weaver

• M58 J1 Kirkby

• M6 J20-J21 Thelwall Viaduct

• M6 J26-J27 M58 to Standish

• M6 J36-J45 Through Cumbria

• M60 J10-J12 Barton Bridge

• M60 J16-J17 Pendlebury and Kearsley to Prestwich and Whitefield

• M62 J18 - J27 Between Manchester and Leeds

• M61 J4-J5 Westhoughton

• M61 J9 / M65 J1 Interchange

• A56 Between M65 and A680 at Edenfield

• M65 J3-J4 Withnell and Blackburn Interchange

• A66 Between M6 J40 - A1 (Scotch Corner)

• A69