MOTORISTS endured hours of tailbacks after two men were killed when they were hit by a lorry on the M6.

The motorway was closed northbound between Junctions 16 and 18 for 11 hours after the accident at Junction 17, near Sandbach, just after 11am yesterday.

It is believed that the drivers of two vehicles travelling in convoy north had stopped on the hard shoulder when they were struck by the HGV. The exact circumstances have not yet been made clear.

Both men died instantly.

One of the

casualties was a 69-year-old man from St

Helens, the second casualty a 39-year-old man from Ashton in

Makerfield. The next of kin have been informed.

The 60-year-old driver of the HGV, from Selby, North Yorkshire, was taken to Leighton Hospital in Crewe and was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He was last night being questioned by detectives. He has been released on bail until November 17.

The southbound carriageway was open again by 3pm, but northbound remained closed until 10pm.

The accident not only caused lengthy tailbacks for motorway users, but for drivers on many routes in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire.

Motorists were diverted off the M6 at Junction 16, along the A500 to the Alsager junction, along the A34 and A50 to Holmes Chapel to rejoin the M6 at Junction 18.

But as motorists tried to find alternative routes, roads became gridlocked in areas including Goldenhill, Kidsgrove, Congleton, Church Lawton and Talke.

An accident involving two cars between the A34 at Astbury and Charles Lane, Brownlow Heath, in which an 84-year-old man needed hospital treatment, added to the problems.

Lorry driver Peter Mansell set off from Crewe at noon to take a delivery to Preston. Five hours later he was still sat in traffic at Brereton.

The 54-year-old, from Crewe, said: "It's been horrendous. It's been stop-start all the way. I didn't move an inch for over an hour.

"I've never known an accident to cause so much chaos."

Mobile hairdresser Pip Harris was travelling from Hanley to Sandbach.

The 23-year-old from Cobridge, said: "Traffic wasn't moving on the A500 from the junction for Kidsgrove so I decided to get off there, but the queues were ridiculous so I went through Packmoor and Mow Cop, but then I got stuck in traffic at Arclid.

"It took me three hours to get there in the end."

First commercial director Paul de Santis said some services in the Kidsgrove and Goldenhill area had been delayed by an hour.

He said: "We tried to keep them going as best we could, but there was quite a dramatic effect on the services."

Chief Inspector Luke McDonnell, pictured, of Cheshire Police, said: "We are at the early stages of the investigation and would urge anyone who witnessed the accident to contact us."

Witnesses should call Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000.