A SECTION of Scotland's busiest motorway had to be closed following a serious road crash near Edinburgh on a day of chaos on the M8 yesterday.

Motorists faced significant delays on the Edinburgh City Bypass and exit routes from the capital, including the Hermiston Gait junction, after a single vehicle crash shortly before 4pm.

The incident occurred on the westbound carriageway of the M8 between junctions 2 and 3. The male driver was injured.

Motorists were told to expect lengthy delays, with both lanes closed for several hours.

There was also congestion on the eastbound carriageways as a result of drivers slowing down to view the crash scene. Diversions were put in place, but drivers were urged to take an alternative route where possible.

Police advised motorists heading westbound to come off the M8 at junction 2 and take the slip road to the M9, joining the A89 at the Newbridge Roundabout towards Livingston.

Meanwhile, a broken down lorry on the Kingston Bridge section of the M8 in Glasgow brought traffic to a standstill earlier in the afternoon.

The lorry blocked one of the two eastbound lanes between junctions 25 and 24, while an earlier breakdown involving another vehicle near junction 15 closed both lanes of the westbound carriageway.