DRIVERS are being urged to avoid using the westbound M62 following this morning's fatal crash.

At around 6am a lorry and a car were in collision between Junction 26 and Junction 25 which resulted in the deaths of a man and woman.

West Yorkshire Police has just completed an investigation into the incident and are now removing the two vehicles involved in the incident from the scene.

It is hoped the carriageway could reopen by 5.30pm.

The Highways Agency has been working at the scene to help manage traffic but the closure of the westbound carriageway of the motorway has resulted in long queues before, onto and along the diversion route.

A landslip along the A628, an alternative route between Huddersfield and Greater Manchester, has resulted in the closure of the westbound carriageway along a short section near Woodhead Pass with temporary traffic lights in place to manage vehicles past the landlsip sites.

This has also resulted in long queues this morning partly caused by traffic avoiding the M62.

There is no trapped traffic at the incident scene along the M62 - all traffic stuck behind the incident was released by 9am.

However, Highways Agency Traffic Officers have been working alongside West Yorkshire Police to carry out welfare checks .

The Highways Agency has also provided temporary toilet facilities and bottled water off the motorway.

Anyone with urgent welfare needs should contact the emergency services on 999.

Drivers currently along the M62 are urged to stay in vehicles and heed advice on electronic signs.

The Highways Agency has also deployed extra recovery services to keep traffic moving onto the diversion route.

The Highways Agency's Regional Control Centre at Calder Park near Wakefield as well as the Highways Agency's National Traffic Operations Centre in Birmingham have set electronic signs across the motorway network to warn drivers of the closure.

Westbound entry slips at Junctions 28 and 27 of the motorway have also been closed to prevent drivers joining long queues in the diversion.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said, "This is a very serious incident and West Yorkshire Police has only just completed its accident investigation. The police have now started to remove the vehicles and until that work is completed we won't be able to inspect the carriageway for any damage and clear any debris - although we do have vehicles on standby to do this work.

"We are working to keep traffic moving through the diversion but inevtiably traffic is very slow across the road network around the incident and drivers should avoid the area and delay journeys - or seek alternative routes - if possible. At the very least drivers should be checking traffic conditions before setting out on journeys."

The Highways Agency provides live traffic information via its website www.highways.gov.uk/traffic

Local Twitter services are also available at @HAtraffic_neast and @HAtraffic_pen9 for Transpennine routes.

Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with road conditions.