POLICE have given an update on a pursuit on the M56 and M6 that caused rush hour traffic chaos yesterday, Wednesday.

At around 3.30pm, officers from Cheshire Police attempted to stop a vehicle on the A49 near to Stretton.

The vehicle, a black BMW convertible, failed to stop and made off onto the M56 and then onto the M6, attempting to travel contraflow.

Thankfully, officers quickly stopped the vehicle near to junction 20 of the M6 northbound at Lymm, and the driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for officers, using a cloned number plate, two counts of drug driving – namely cannabis and cocaine – and drink driving.

The 34-year-old man, from Manchester, was also wanted by a neighbouring force for perverting the course of justice.

Inspector Anton Sullivan, of Cheshire Police’s Roads and Crime Unit, said: “While we appreciate the disruption caused by this incident yesterday, the actions taken by officers were commendable.

“The individual involved was driving erratically and initially attempted to drive in the wrong direction on one of the busiest motorways in Cheshire during rush hour traffic.

“The danger posed to other innocent motorists was unthinkable and had to be stopped before he got onto Thelwall Viaduct, but thanks to the great work of the team we were able to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.”

Three lanes are closed and very slow traffic was reported on the northbound carriageway at the time, with congestion stretching back past junction 19 for Northwich and Knutsford at Tabley.