Horse power leads to late-night delays on M11 in Essex
Drivers were left stranded on a motorway for several hours - after 12 horses escaped onto the carriageway.
Police were forced to close the M11 near Harlow, Essex, on Saturday night as officers worked to round up the animals.
The incident quickly circulated on social media, with many branding it "#M11horsegate".
Media personality Jodie Marsh tweeted that she had been stuck on the motorway for more than two hours, saying: "Just got home after being stuck for over 2 hours on the #M11 because 12 horses were loose on the motorway. It wasn't too bad actually; we had quite a laugh in the car & we're assured the horses are safe."
Just got home after being stuck for over 2 hours on the #M11 because 12 horses were loose on the motorway. It wasn't too bad actually; we had quite a laugh in the car & we're assured the horses are safe. I also had snacks in my handbag #bonus ????
-- Jodie Marsh (@JodieMarsh) May 13, 2018
Another Twitter user, Joanna Chivers, said: "At least I can say I was there for the great M11 horse round-up of 2018!"
At least I can say I was there for the great M11 horse round-up of 2018! An hour an counting at a complete standstillzzzzz #M11
-- Joanna Chivers (@joanna_chivers) May 12, 2018
Others were not quite so happy about the delays, with traffic left at a standstill.
Obviously what I needed after a 12 hour day at work was to be stuck in traffic on the M11 for over an hour and won't be moving anytime soon as the roads full of horses ?
-- Leanne James (@leanneejames) May 12, 2018
The motorway was closed in both directions between junctions 6 and 7 from about 11.50pm, and did not reopen until about 2am.
Eleven of the horses were coaxed back into a field, while the last one was taken away in a horsebox.