Northamptonshire's return to work slowed up by COWS on the M1

Northamptonshire's tentative return to work on Wednesday was slowed up by COWS wandering on the M1.

Highways England traffic officers were forced to stop traffic on the northbound carriageway between junctions 17 and 18 while they shooed the cows to safety.

Motorists trying to get back to work for the first time in nearly eight weeks today (May 13) were advised to seek an alternative route as traffic stacked up towards junction 16 before 8am.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged employees who cannot work from home to return to their workplaces in his address to the nation on Sunday in which he unveiled a "conditional plan" aimed at reopening society following the Covid-19 lockdown.

It is the second time in four days cows have caused problems on the same stretch of the M1.

Traffic was held up for around two hours on Saturday while Highways England staff dealt with the issue.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper when you do your weekly shop.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.