Traffic delays after escaped horses close the M23

The M23 has re-opened after six escaped horses caused gridlock near Crawley this morning.

At around 7.30am, Sussex Roads Police tweeted that "traffic was at a standstill" due to loose horses on the carriageway near Crawley.

At 8.30am police said Highways England was trying to turn around some of the trapped traffic and thanked drivers for their patience.

At 9.45am, Sussex Roads Police gave an update on Twitter. It said: "Half of the horses have been loaded into a vehicle, and we're just trying to persuade the rest in.

“They are, we are told by people with much better knowledge of horses than us, yearlings, who have never been in a vehicle before, so they're frightened & skittish about getting in."

They later said the motorway had re-opened, and posted a picture of those responsible...