Body discovered on M61

A closure on the M61 motorway is likely to remain in place well into the afternoon of Friday 8 June 2012.

Just after 2am, police were called to a section of the southbound M61 motorway at Kearsley in Bolton following reports the body had been seen in the carriageway.

Officers attended and a full closure of the M61 southbound at junction four remains in place while an investigation is carried out.

It is unlikely that this will be lifted in time for the afternoon rush hour, so motorists are advised to use other routes.

Superintendent Stuart Barton said: "A large-scale policing response is in place following this tragic incident.

"We are making a number of inquiries at the scene, which is why the road closures are likely to remain in place for some time.

"We are still trying to establish the identity of the woman who has died, so we can find and notify next of kin as soon as possible.

"It is too early to say whether there are any suspicious circumstances, and the road is still closed so we can do our best to understand what happened.

"In can assure the public we are doing all we can to return the road network to normal however, at this time I would ask that motorists avoid this part of the M61"

Police are appealing to anyone with information or who was on or near the motorway at about the time of the incident to call police on 101.