Heavy rain, rush hour traffic and children going back to school after the half-term holidays caused long tailbacks on the A1M this morning (Monday), while an accident shut a major route into Stevenage.

Vehicles were reduced to a standstill on the motorway creating tailbacks at Comet country junctions with the trunk road.

A crash at the junction of North Road and Graveley Road in Graveley caused further delays for drivers after the North Road was shut shortly after 9am.

The female driver of a blue Mercedes was taken by ambulance to Lister Hospital with minor back injuries. The male driver of a silver Vauxhall Corsa was unhurt.

The road has now been reopened.