Overhanging lorry forces part of motorway to close

Christmas Eve travellers faced long delays after a stretch of motorway had to be closed when a lorry struck a safety barrier.

The crash, which took place early on Tuesday morning between junctions 7 and 6 of the M40, left the HGV overhanging a footpath below.

The southbound carriageway was fully closed between junction 8a for Oxford and junction 6 for Lewknor while the vehicle was recovered, and then partially reopened while barrier repairs were carried out.

National Highways confirmed just before 18:30 GMT the road had fully reopened.

The authority said there were residual delays of less than 10 minutes.

During the closure a diversion was put in place via the A40.

Craig Sowden, operations manager for National Highways' East region, said: "This collision has left an HGV balancing precariously over a footpath used by members of the public below."

"We have looked at all possible options but the only way to manage this situation safely is to close the carriageway," he said earlier.

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