Shropshire lorry driver saves the day as escaped dog causes traffic chaos on the M5

Peter Wright saved the day by catching the escaped pooch - but not after it had brought gridlock to the motorway for more than an hour.

Police stopped traffic on the M5 while officers attempted to apprehend the on-the-run dog, causing major tailbacks in both directions near West Bromwich from around 10.30am.

Images and videos posted on social media showed traffic police running along the hard shoulder as the dog - believed to be an Alsation - ran in between the stranded vehicles.

Luckily Mr Wright, from Ludlow, came to the rescue after spotting the carefree canine near his parked-up truck between junctions 1 and 2.

He explained: "As I got on the motorway they had put the traffic officers there and signs up saying that there were animals on the loose.

"I was expecting it to be horses or something like that but then I spotted this dog running around my lorry.

"I got out and managed to find this blue lead in my lorry and tied it around his neck.

"He was quite a big dog and similar to an Alsatian and I managed to stand with him by the side of the motorway until the patrol van arrived.

"He was very friendly but a little tired from running up and down I think."

Highways England tweeted throughout the incident.

They said: "Great news! Dog has been safely caught, preparations are being made to release the traffic #M5, both ways J2 + J1. Long delays.

"The dog's ok, we've given him some fuss and he's safely off the network."