Drivers are being urged to avoid a busy motorway as a "police-led incident" has caused both carriageways to close as motorists face long delays.

The M69 in Leicestershire has been closed in both directions between J1 (Hinckley) and the M1 link at J21 as a result of an "ongoing Leicestershire police-led incident".

National Highways has warned drivers of the incident, adding that traffic officers and contractors are assisting with strategic closures on the approach.

Posting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, Leicestershire Police confirmed the road closure on J2 of the M69.

Traffic maps show long delays for motorists along the M69

It also noted that there is currently a road closure on the B4669 between Hinckley and Sapcote. The police force confirmed that updates would follow in due course.

Traffic maps suggest that the road closure is expected to remain until at least 11am, with normal traffic conditions expected to resume at the same time.

The latest update from National Highways: East Midlands confirms that traffic caught within the closure on the northbound lane is being released.

It also added that the southbound carriageway is now open. The traffic management organisation has also set out diversion routes for impacted drivers.

Drivers travelling southbound should follow the Solid Triangle diversion symbol on road signs.

The diversion states that at J21 of the M1, they should continue southbound on the M1 for approximately 17km to M1 J20 instead of leaving the motorway.

From here, they should exit the M1 southbound at the J20 and take the third exit onto the A4303 before continuing on the A5 for around 5km to the A5/Cross in Hand Roundabout at Magna Park.

Motorists should then take the fourth exit onto the A5 north and continue for around 10km before reaching the M69 J1.

The southbound carriageway is now open, although the police situation is ongoing