AN inquiry into how a man died on one of the main roads heading out of East Lancashire has seen the M66 closed overnight.

Motorists leaving the Blackburn and Burnley area were left facing long queues after the incident closed the motorway into Manchester.

Police say a man was believed to have been walking along the carriageway when he was struck by a car, just before 2am.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "He has been struck by a car and then struck by three other vehicles. He was declared dead at the scene."

Investigators are still trying to establish how the man came to be on the motorway and have so far not been able to identify the victim.

Their inquiry caused the motorway, which connects the A56 to the city centre, to be closed northbound and southbound for several hours today.

The incident is said to have occurred between junction three at Pilsworth and junction two for Bury.

Diversions have been in place in both directions, ahead of the motorway being reopened but drivers are being warned to expect delays.