Impatient drivers have been criticised by emergency services dealing with a major vehicle fire on the M6 near Preston.
AdvertisementPolice helicopter images show a number of drivers using the hard shoulder to try and escape the tailbacks.
Lancashire Road Police tweeted: “Only use the hard shoulder in an emergency or when directed to do so.
“Do not use it to avoid queueing. It is dangerous and hampers 999 services.”
NPAS Warton was called out to use its sky shout address system to keep motorists informed of what was happening after the M6 was closed at Junction 32 for around 40 minutes.
Delays of an hour and a half are still being experienced as holidaymakers try to get to Blackpool and the Lake District.
The police helicopter tweeted “these drivers clearly couldn’t wait like the patient thousands of other motorists, so thought they would risk points.”
A further image showed a Lancashire Police vehicle waiting on the hard shoulder to intercept a number of drivers.