THOUSANDS of commuters suffered hours of traffic misery yesterday on their way into work following an early morning crash on the M62.

The eastbound carriageway near Birstall was closed following a crash involving two vans and a motorcycle.

Click below to see ours and readers' pictures from the scene.

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Emergency services were called to the scene on the carriageway between Junctions 26 (Chain Bar) and 27 (Gildersome) at 5.42am.

All the main roads near to the motorway from Ainley Top through to Leeds were badly snarled up and Brighouse was virtually gridlocked.

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said: “When we arrived all three carriageways were blocked and we had to use the emergency hard shoulder to get through.

“One van had gone into the back of another and about 100 yards down the road was a motorcycle with the rider on the middle lane.

“He was receiving first aid when we arrived and was later taken to hospital.”

Police said his injuries were serious but more a case of “broken bones” and not life threatening.

June Cockburn, a 51-year-old teacher at Paddock Junior, Infant and Nursery School, was caught up in the traffic mayhem.

She said: “I set off from my home in Clayton, Bradford, at 7.05am and noticed the traffic was a little bit heavier than usual.

“I got onto the M606 and nearly ran into the car in front of me.

“I soon realised the traffic was going nowhere and switched off my ignition a couple of times. I found out from the radio that there had been an accident and then it was just crawl, crawl, crawl.

“I phoned my school and someone joked that they hoped I had got plenty of marking in my boot for me to catch up on!

“When I eventually got onto the M62 it was clear and I could see the traffic queuing the other way.

“I finally reached school at 8.20am. It normally only takes me 35 minutes.’’

The motorway collision led to traffic congestion elsewhere.

Garreth Goodison, 21, of Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield, said it took him nearly three hours to get into his work at Bradford.

He said: “I set off on the X6 bus from Huddersfield at 7.50am and once we got to Asda at Bradley the traffic was just not moving.

“I got straight onto Twitter to find out what was happening. Fortunately I had my Kindle with me so I was able to catch up on some reading.”

The motorway re-opened just after 10am.

The main roads that became snarled up included Leeds Road, Bradford Road and all the routes in and out of Brighouse.

HERE are some of the comments tweeted by frustrated drivers stuck in the massive hold-up.

Ant Patton: Oh #M62 I will not miss you when I move to London

Simon Helliwell: Traffic on the #M62 this morning moving just as fast as the #lufc takeover. Not moving

Nicola Fox: Got diverted off the #M62. Had a little adventure trying to find my way to Leeds from Bradford. What a morning it’s been and it’s only 7am! Accident on #m62, been sat stationary for over half hour, better to be sat in it than involved in it, might have a kip.

Lyns P: Something must have happened on #m62. Traffic terrible in hudds

Tracey Altoft: 16 mile tailback! This is becoming a daily occurrence #M62 #gottaloveit - Linda Dye