M1 closure: Police reveal why M1 had to close near Chesterfield, causing major tailbacks this morning

Police have explained why they had to close the M1 today - causing tailbacks reaching close to Sheffield.

Highways bosses announced shortly before 6am today that they had closed the motorway southbound around junction 28, between Chesterfield and Mansfield.

Severe tailbacks stretched from J28 to J29a, south of Barlborough and Killamarsh.

By the time it re-opened at around 7.30am, there was nine miles of traffic. One motorist said on social media that they had had been stuck in queues for two and a half hours.

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Derbyshire Police have now revealed what happened to cause the closure.

They said in a statement: “A closure was in place as officers were responding to a concern for safety of a man, who was reported to be on the wrong side of the bridge on the M1.

“He was returned to safety and the road reopened.”