Drivers were held back by an unlikely culprit on the A1(M) – thousands of loaves of bread.
The motorway was closed in both directions in Bowburn outside Durham this morning after a Warburtons lorry crashed through the central reservation.
As a result, supermarket crates loaded with white toast spilt onto the carriageway.
Countless Warburtons loaves were left strewn across the road after the orange HGV tipped fully on its side in the collision.
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A massive crane was brought to the scene to lift the lorry.
The baked goodies were eventually scraped off the tarmac too.
Durham Constabulary said: ‘Police were called just after 5.10am today following reports that a lorry had overturned on the A1(M) just after the Bowburn junction.
‘The lorry shed its load across both carriageways, resulting in the road being closed at Bowburn junction.
‘The driver of the lorry was taken to hospital for treatment.’
National Highways said: ‘The HGV has been righted by a crane. A large debris field needs to be cleared and barrier repairs need to take place.’
The lorry smashed shortly before 6am, causing hours of misery for commuters throughout the rush hour as the motorway closed in both directions between junctions J60 and J61.
A stretch of the motorway remains closed this afternoon due to the scale of the damage and temporary barrier repairs, and traffic delays are forming in both directions.
Durham Constabulary urged motorists to use alternative routes.
The UK roads have endured a variety of spillage over the years, ranging from fuel to everyday essentials.
Last month, a lorry spilt 300 litres of diesel on the M3 in Hampshire, closing the busy road at peak rush hour.
In 2022, an HGV underestimated its height, hitting a bridge in Lewisham, south London, and causing toilet roll to clogg up the road.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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