A sofa had to be cleared from the M53 near Hoole.

It was struck by one vehicle before it was removed from the motorway, but there were no injuries caused.

The sofa had fallen off a vehicle and was blocking a lane, which was temporarily closed, Northbound between junctions 11 and 12 at about 9.30am on Friday (September 5).

All lanes were back open as normal at 11am.

North West Motorway Police tweeted: “Sofa on the M53NB from Hoole. No sitting down on the job for @HighwaysNWEST who are on the way to clear it.”

Reports of a fallen tree blocking a slip road onto the M53 Northbound at junction 10 were also checked by NW Motorway Police but proved to be false.