TWO policemen have been charged with dangerous driving over allegations they reversed the wrong way down a motorway.

Sergeants Andrew Watson and Shelton Newsham are accused of one offence each of dangerous driving and one of driving backwards down the M606 between the M62 at junction 26 Chain Bar and Bradford.

Dangerous driving alone carries a maximum jail sentence of two years.

Anyone found guilty of dangerous driving is automatically banned from getting behind the wheel for at least a year.

The two men, who appeared at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday, did not formally enter pleas but both indicated that they would deny the claims.

Both men work for West Yorkshire Police.

Mr Watson, 39, who lives in Linthwaite, works for Bradford South division.

Mr Newsham, 34, who lives at Ainley Top, works for Tong and Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team, also based in Bradford.

The claims against them relate to an incident on June 29 last year.

The court heard there had been a collision on the southbound carriageway of the M606 and the emergency services were called.

Outlining the case, prosecutor Alex Johnson said: “An air ambulance had been dispatched to land on the northbound carriageway, which was closed, resulting in quite significant traffic jams.

“CCTV showed a number of vehicles unable to make any progress, so drivers were seen taking the decision to reverse down the hard shoulder but also down the carriageway.”

Mr Shelton, it is alleged, was seen reversing down the inside lane against the flow of traffic for a short distance.

Mr Watson is facing similar allegations.

The case was adjourned for six weeks and magistrates took the decision to transfer the matter to Dewsbury Magistrates’ Court.

Damian Kelly, defending both men, made the application for the matter to be moved to Dewsbury.

He said: “Clearly my clients are serving police officers in West Yorkshire Police who work in this locality.

“They reside in the local area and in the interests of justice, the case would be best served being transferred to another court.”

The two men were granted unconditional bail.

Six other people have been charged with dangerous driving and driving backwards down a motorway in connection with the same incident.

They are: Gurdev Singh, 46, of Shelf, Halifax, Suleman Vali Patel, 53, from Birmingham, David Moran, 27, of Pudsey in Leeds, Neil MacRae, 45, also of Pudsey, Zaroof Ahmed Fazal, 48, from Prestwich in Manchester, and Juraj Facuna, 40, from Bradford.

Only Mr Singh and Mr Fazal appeared in court yesterday.

All six cases were adjourned until next month.