THE Whitehaven News readers have responded to M6 closures being paused over the weekend of the Queen's funeral.

Families travelling through Cumbria spent all day in traffic gridlock as a stretch of the M6 had to be closed for routine bridge repairs at Junction 33 near Preston.

These bridge repairs were planned to continue on into the month. However, National Highways announced that this weekend September 16-19, the repairs would be put on hold.

Alan Shepherd, National Highways divisional director said: "We are sincerely sorry for the delays experienced by drivers on the M6 this weekend and will be reviewing the traffic management, signage and communications ahead of future weekend closures.

“As the nation pays its respects to Queen Elizabeth, planned full closures on the M6 are being paused this weekend (September 16 – 19).

"This will allow National Highways more time to review its plans for future weekend closures and make any necessary changes to minimise disruption."

Here's what you had to say. 

Jannine Gutteridge said: "The diversion was ridiculous our already 5 hour journey became 9 hours, it was badly thought out and advertised."

Lorraine Lepley said: "It took my son over 5 hours to get to Blackpool on Saturday from Whitehaven a journey that should have taken a couple of hours.

"Coming back on Sunday he said the southbound was as bad again with huge queues hardly moving, luckily the northbound on his journey back was flowing well."

One reader said: "I've just spoken to the highway agency and apparently the road works are still on for this coming weekend no decision has been made to cancel as yet."

Another said: "Absolute madness, whoever gave the go ahead for this should be fired."

Mr Shepherd said that two out of the three lanes were opened on the southbound carriageway at 5.10pm yesterday. Work restarted at 12am and will continue until 5am on Monday, September 12.