Updated: M62 motorway reopens after 'biggest chemical spill for a decade'

The M62 between Goole and Selby reopened on Saturday evening after a major chemical spillage.

A tanker overturned and spilled a flammable, toxic chemical across the road on Friday evening.

The accident happened on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 34 and 35.

However, the motorway was closed in both directions because Humberside Fire and Rescue Service put a 300-metre exclusion zone in place around the stricken tanker following what was described as "the biggest chemical spill in the region for a decade".

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The westbound carriageway fully reopened at about 9pm.

It was initially feared that the eastbound carriageway would remain closed until Sunday morning, but one lane has now reopened.

Friday's travel chaos led to the postponement of Hull FC's match against Bradford because players were unable to get to the ground.

The Super League tie will now be played on Sunday at 3pm.

A spokesman said the Highways Agency had worked with emergency services to reopen the road.

The fire service led the operation to clear the chemical from the tanker, which then had to be lifted upright and moved from the road.

Highways Agency workers had to wait for the area to be made safe before they could repair the road and replace a section of the central reservation which has been cut away.

The spokesman said: "Humberside Fire and Rescue Service led the operation to deal with the stricken tanker.

"The vehicle needed to be righted and the chemical hazard removed.

"The service believe it was the biggest chemical spill in the region for a decade.

"As soon as the section of the motorway was handed back to the Highways Agency at 5.05pm, our contractors finished the clean-up and began repairs on a 15-metre section of the central reservation barrier.

"Repairs were completed at 6.05pm, but as road surface temperatures had dropped significantly the road also needed to be treated before it was safe to reopen.

"On the eastbound carriageway there has been damage to the road surface on the hard shoulder and two lanes over a 100-metre section.

"We have reopened one lane but the remaining lanes and hard shoulder will be resurfaced overnight and reopened on Sunday morning."

During the closure, motorists were diverted via the A19, A63, A1041, A645 and A614.

• 'We did everything humanly possible to play Hull FC v Bradford match'

Updated 9.40pm.