Thelwall Viaduct Opening, 1963

Teddy bears picnic on the motorway

There were Sunday, strollers and holiday the hikers and men in shirt, sleeves, women in cotton dresses and babies in prams. Even dogs and teddy bears took to Britain’s new £15 1/2 million motorway yesterday, but not one car wheel turned It was pedestrians only day on the 26 mile M6 between Bamber Bridge near Preston and Lymm Cheshire the one day in its lifetime when it was open to walkers and closed to cars.The motorway ready for traffic last Friday has been guarded by police so that transport Minister, Mr Ernest Marples could be the first apart from officials in coaches to drive along it when it opens today The cars in the picture got no further than the barriers at the entrance to the Thelwall viaduct.

Daily Mail.