MOTORISTS were caught up in traffic chaos after a lorry overturned on the M65, blocking an entire carriage-way at rush hour.

And police said the driver of the lorry had a lucky escape after the vehicle almost came off the motorway at a bridge and onto the sliproad below.

The lorry jack-knifed while travelling along the eastbound carriageway near junction four at Ewood.

And part of the vehicle was left hanging precariously off the bridge after the accident.

Police said the accident was caused when the trailer part of the articulated lorry, which was carrying a fork-lift truck, collapsed, causing the lorry to jack-knife.

The driver of the lorry was left with minor leg injuries after the incident.

Insp Phil Cottam said the driver had a lucky escape.

He said: "The bridge has stopped the lorry from falling off the main motorway.

"Part of it was hanging off the road and it is very fortunate that the driver was not more badly hurt."

The motorway was closed eastbound between junction three at Riley Green and four at Ewood for several hours.

Police said queues stretched back as far as junction one at the M6 near Preston.

Other roads nearby were experiencing problems after the accident, which occurred around 4pm.

Long queues were reported at the M6 and the A666.