MORE than 50 motorists face court action after driving the wrong way down the M65, police said.

The ‘dangerous’ ‘stupid’ and ‘irresponsible’ actions of drivers who decided to do a U-turn and travel the wrong way along the motorway and onto a sliproad have been slammed by community leaders and police.

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Officers said the reckless drivers not only put their own lives at risk but also those of the defenceless, law abiding motorists travelling in the right direction.

Claims a man was seen walking along the motorway, forced police to close the carriageway in both directions between junctions five and six for five minutes at around 1.30pm on Saturday.

While the closure was in place more 50 motorists decided to do a U-turn and drive the wrong way along the motorway and onto a sliproad, police said.

But when the motorway re-opened they found themselves going against the flow of traffic and ran straight in to a police patrol.

The drivers have been issued with court summons and face possibly penalty points, a heft fine or even a disqualification from driving.

Sgt Malcolm Bell said: “Anybody caught driving the wrong way along the motorway deserves to be prosecuted. It’s a serious offence and one that puts lives at risk. It’s dangerous, it’s stupid and it’s irresponsible.

“The motorway was only shut for five minutes and there would not have been a huge build up of traffic.

“Therefore you could have had vehicles travelling on to the sliproad at 70 miles per hour, which could have resulted in a head-on collision and fatalities.”

Sgt Bell said the motorists will be prosecuted for the offence of driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway, which could result in penalty points, a fine or even disqualification.

Oswaldtwistle councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “To act like that could have caused carnage.

“No one likes to be stuck in a traffic jam but but on the other hand it’s important that you remain patient.

“It could have been a disastrous situation. I have never heard of anything like this happening before.

“I am glad they will face court action because the message had to be sent out that this behaviour is unacceptable on a motorway.”

Cllr Ronald O’Keeffe, who represents the Shadsworth with Whitebirk ward in Blackburn, said: “People just think they can use the motorways how they want to use them.

“There are so many accidents on the motorway with people being stupid and irresponsible. I just don’t understand why these people decided to do this.

“Anyone who commits an offence on the motorway should be taken to court so I am happy with the action the police have taken. I am just glad nobody was injured.”

Burnley councillor Gordon Birtwistle said: “It shows how selfish some people are when they are prepared to put people’s lives at risk for the sake of five minutes.

“Getting behind the wheel of a car certainly brings out the worst in some people.

“I fully support the police in the action they have taken and I hope that the courts do as well.”

A spokesman for Lancashire’s Road Policing unit, Tweeted: “The motorway is reopened after being shut for only five minutes.

“Unbelievably 50+ cars decided to u-turn and drive the wrong way down the motorway to exit the sliproad the wrong way.

“Motorway reopened and they found themselves against flow of traffic. See you all in court.”