The A1(M) was shut for more than two hours last night after a 10-vehicle pile-up which is believed to have been caused by a car travelling the wrong way down the motorway.

The crash happened just after 8.20pm on the northbound carriageway, near to Junction 4 for Hatfield.

It is believed a Renault Clio had been travelling southbound before the collision.

A police spokesman said no-one had been seriously injured but the motorway was shut northbound between Junction 3-4 until 10.40pm while eight of the vehicles were recovered.

The vehicle involved were as follows: a blue Renault Clio, a blue Vauxhall Astra, a red Peugeot 206, a silver Vauxhall Meriva, a silver Volkswagen Golf, a green Renault Laguna, a silver Ford Mondeo, a white lorry, a grey Ford Focus and a silver Ford Focus.

The spokesman added: “I would ask anyone who witnessed the events prior to the collision and the crash itself to call us on non-emergency number 101.”

No arrests have been made at this stage.