MOTORISTS across Greater Manchester faced rush hour misery in a series of traffic jams this morning.

Police investigating an apparent hit and run in the early hours of this morning closed The Crescent, in Salford, to traffic heading into Manchester.

A police officer came across the victim, a man thought to be about 50 years old, lying near the junction with Albion Way at 2.10am. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers were this morning trying to identify the man and examine the scene.

The partial closure of the road, one of the main arterial routes into Manchester, caused tailbacks to traffic as far away as Bolton by mid-morning. Motorists reported being stationary in the hold-ups for more than an hour.

It is thought the man was hit by a Vauxhall Astra, which failed to stop at the scene. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone who knows the whereabouts of the car involved or its driver to contact them.

And there were delays of up to one and a half hours for drivers heading south on the M6 after a lorry fire near Lymm in Cheshire. The fire on the vehicle, which was carrying toilet rolls, started at 6.40am and blocked two lanes of the motorway causing tailbacks back to Wigan.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “The fire on the M6 caused major delays or more than an hour from 6.40am right through rush hour on a stretch of the M6 which is busy most mornings at this time.

“Elsewhere heavy traffic on the motorways during the morning commute caused more minor problems.”

A couple of cars broke down on Princess Parkway causing delays for people heading into Manchester this morning causing delays of up to 15 minutes.

And there were delays on the M56 between junctions around Bowdon, due to heavy traffic

Traffic was heavy on the M60 for people heading clockwise between junctions 22 and 2, near to Stockport. Motorists reported delays of 15 minutes.

The M66 southbound entry slip from Bury and Heywood was closed after a trailer came off a lorry.

Police are appealing for anyone with information regarding the death in Salford to call them on 0161 856 5351, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.