MOTORIST faced another gruelling gridlocked journey on the M62 yesterday after two multi-vehicle crashes within 30 minutes.

And the traffic delays spread to roads across Huddersfield as the motorway backed up, causing congestion on adjoining routes.

Police closed the M62 eastbound at junction 26 (Chain Bar) after a five-vehicle crash at around 2.30pm.

It is believed no-one was injured but two lanes were shut causing massive delays.

The lanes re-opened at 4pm, but as commuters filled the roads, delays of more than 80 minutes were reported, with speeds down to 5mph and queues back to junction 31 (Castleford).

The congestion also affected those travelling westbound on the M62 due to people slowing down to look from the opposite carriageway.

Half-an-hour before the crash at Chain Bar, a lorry and a pick-up truck and another vehicle crashed near the M621 slip road at junction 27 at Gildersome.

Both vehicles were moved to the hard shoulder immediately but delays had a knock-on impact on journey times.

Traffic on the A62 Cooper Bridge Road at Cooper Bridge queued in both directions near the Wakefield Road junction.

There were also queues on the A629 Calderdale Way, Elland, at the A6025 Halifax Road junction.

The disruption continued until around 8.30pm.