DRIVERS faced severe motorway delays after a fuel tanker crashed through a central reservation, overturned and deposited oil across the road.

Both the east and westbound carriages of the M62 between junction 34 and 35 near Selby were closed for about 14 hours, while repairs were undertaken after the accident at 4.45pm yesterday.

The articulated lorry, which was travelling west, was carrying 4,500 litres of gas oil when it crashed, about one mile west of the M18 junction.

The road was closed while the spillage was cleaned up and the central barrier and road surface were repaired

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said traffic had been backed up about four miles to Pollington Bridge, near Goole, on the eastbound carriageway during rush hour, but drivers on the westbound side had been able to drive on the hard shoulder. She said diversions were put in place very quickly.

The driver escaped with a minor cut to his arm.

The road reopened at 8am today.

Updated: 10:32 Thursday, August 05, 2004