New emergency bays on M1 almost complete

There are six new emergency areas being created along the M1 between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire

Roadworks to create six new emergency areas along a smart motorway between two counties are due to be completed by Christmas

The first stretch of work along the M1, between Leicester and Nottingham, started earlier this month with a series of overnight lane closures in place.

National Highways started the work at junction 23a earlier this month and will continue up to junction 26, now in its "final stages of work along this stretch", the authority said.

The work is part of a national programme to create more emergency areas along smart motorways prompted by concerns about their safety.

New bays - which provide a place for drivers to stop if they cannot exit the smart motorway in an emergency - are also being installed on the M1 in Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, and on the M5 in Worcestershire.

A spokesperson for National Highways said it expected to have the Leicestershire to Nottinghamshire stretch completed by Christmas.

They added: "Obviously any of our work can be affected by severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, but we are certainly on track to remove the traffic management by Christmas."