A DRUG driver was caught by police on the M61 after middle-lane hogging for more than three miles.

Police said they followed the driver of a Vauxhall Meriva on the motorway for more than three miles while he sat in the middle lane.

Officers eventually pulled the male motorist over at Junction 6 for Bolton and Horwich.

They discovered he had only passed his test two weeks earlier and he claimed he "didn't realise he should drive in lane one".

Greater Manchester Police's traffic patrols tweeted about the incident at about 3.30am on Sunday: "#ME18 stopped a Vauxhall Meriva on the M61 at J6 after following the vehicle for over three miles with the Meriva sat in lane two.

"On being stopped driver said he only passed his test two weeks ago and didn't realise he should drive in lane one.

"He also failed a drug test #fatal5 @NWmwaypolice."