MOTORISTS faced a traffic night-mare this morning, after TWO horses broke out from their fields and escaped onto the A1(M).

Police were inundated with early morning reports of a horse seen trotting along the northbound carriageway between junctions four WGC and junction five at around 5.50am today (Wednesday).

Officers closed the road in both directions before tethering the horse, and taking it back to its field.

The nag had escaped through a hole in the fence - which has since been repaired by the Highways Agency.

But just as police thought they’d seen enough horseplay for one day, they were caught on the hoof by reports of a second equine escapee holding up traffic in the opposite direction.

Just after 6am, another horse was seen galloping along the southbound carriageway near junction three for Hatfield.

This time, police reduced traffic to a 30mph speed limit before taking the horse back to its field.

The traffic measure stayed in place until just after 11am, as a fence was once again repaired.

The aftermath was captured on camera by 16-year-old James Chapman, who snapped pictures of police taking the horses back to their fields.

A police spokeswoman said the bizarre events caused long tailbacks in both directions, and traffic was only now getting back to normal.