M1 closed after body found on side of road with police launching investigation

A busy motorway is still partly closed after a body was located in the undergrowth, police has confirmed. Hertfordshire Police[1] confirmed that the body of a man was found next to the M1 on Monday afternoon. The force said the death is being treated as "unexplained" at this time.

The M1 was shut, between junctions five and six close to Watford, at around 3pm. Police[2] issued a statement on Monday and said: "We were contacted earlier this afternoon after the body of a man was found in undergrowth at the side of the motorway between junctions five and six.

"Officers are currently working to establish the circumstances of the man's death, which are currently unexplained, and will remain in the area this evening and tomorrow." The southbound section reopened at around 6.30pm with the northbound section reopening shortly before 10pm. According to reports, one of three lanes northbound remain closed at this time. The closures sparked traffic[4] disruption on the M1, with congestion also being reported on the A41 in North Watford.

Drivers said they faced delays of up to 90 minutes during yesterday's closures, reports Watford Observer[5]. National Highways have since issued an update and said police finished their investigation work in the early hours of this morning. National Highways East Tweeted: "Hertfordshire Police have completed their investigation work on the M1 northbound between J4 (Elstree) and J5 (Watford) following the earlier incident.

The carriageway has been reopened with lane 1 of (3) remaining closed at this stage at the request of crews on scene."

References

1. ^ Hertfordshire Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Police (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ Jack-knifed lorry blocks busy M20 motorway after smashing into bridge (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ traffic (www.mirror.co.uk)
5. ^ reports Watford Observer (www.watfordobserver.co.uk)