Man is arrested after M62 closure

A stretch of the M62 in Merseyside has been partially reopened after being closed because of a "suspicious package" found on a coach.

Police called the bomb squad and shut the road in both directions for four hours between junctions four at Rocket and six at Tarbock Island.

The closure followed a disturbance on the National Express 380 service from Liverpool to Manchester.

A man has been arrested and detained under the Mental Health Act.

The eastbound lane where the evacuated coach is parked, remains closed and passengers are being interviewed by police officers about the incident.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "We were called following a disturbance on a coach and the discovery of a suspicious package.

Passengers interviewed

"That package has since been declared safe.

"A man was arrested for a breach of the peace and as a precaution the passengers and driver were evacuated from the coach.

"While a search of the coach and some items of luggage was carried out, a cordon was put in place which required the closure of both carriageways."

Two junctions of the M62 were closed. Picture by David Jones

He said a thorough search was carried out by specially trained officers and said the motorway was now fully opened west bound, with a near lane closure east bound.

He added: "The passengers are currently with officers and it is hoped that they will be able to continue their journey later today.

"The man arrested has now been detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act."

A spokeswoman for National Express added: "There was a security incident and the police were called.

"All the passengers were evacuated and the bomb squad were called."