MOTORISTS travelling on the M53 motorway are advised to expect delays over the next 12 hours as barriers are repaired following a collision where a driver was arrested this morning.

The incident is on the southbound carriageway between junction 4 (Spital) and junction 5 (Hooton), where according to the Highways Agency "significant barrier damage" was reported.

A lane repair team is currently on the scene but, according to the North West Motorway Police, the barrier is not expected to be fixed for several hours as the damage is too great to simply 'rehang' the barrier, so one lane of the three-lane carriageway remains closed.

Highways England subsequently confirmed the lane closure would remain in place overnight.

The damage occurred after a motorist hit the central reservation and was facing the wrong way afterwards.

North West Motorway Police reported on Twitter the driver had blown a positive breath test and he was arrested and taken to custody, where he blew a second, higher reading of 60 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, compared to the legal limit of 35.

They added: "Thank goodness no-one else was hurt.

"Barrier crew on scene have updated us that due to the amount of damage they won't be able to rehang the barrier so will need to put a lane closure in place for most of the day whilst they replace it.

"Please plan ahead if this is your route today."

The damaged vehicle was recovered by Highways England.