MOTORISTS were urged to avoid the M6 north of Carlisle after a vehicle shed bales of hay.

A spokesman from Highways England said traffic heading northbound was stopped temporarily between junction 43 at Rosehill and junction 44 at Greymoor Hill, just after 4pm today (Sunday).

Police and road traffic officers swiftly arrived on the scene to clear the hay bales from the carriageway. 

The motorway was fully reopened within an hour.