A BROKEN down crane meant motorists were caught up in a huge traffic jam on St Peter’s Way this morning.

Traffic was reduced to just one lane around the cherry picker, located by the Raikes Lane exit northbound of the A666.

One frustrated motorist, travelling from Eccles to Bolton town centre, said she was badly delayed by the disruption.

She said: “I was furious. I was going to be early for work this morning, but it ended up adding 20 minutes to my journey.

“Everyone was crawling at five miles an hour.

“There was no-one by the crane and it was leaning against the wall.”

North West Motorway Police tweeted: “Getting reports of a broken down crane on the A666 northbound close to Manchester Rd junction. This is causing northbound tailbacks from Kearsley Island.

“The broken down crane on the A666 northbound close to Manchester Rd junction is causing northbound tailbacks from Kearsley Island and now affecting the M61.”