PUNCTURED tyres and other damage to scores of vehicles led to traffic on the A1(M) being brought to a complete standstill.

The damage, to around 40 vehicles ion December 30, was believed to have been caused by a metal ramp, similar to those fitted to car transporter vehicles, which had fallen from a vehicle into the carriageway.

Police attended the incident, at junction one, at South Mimms, at around 6pm.

They closed and cleared the road – a process which took two-and-a-half hours.

Police also appealed for witnesses who saw what happened to come forward.

Pc Justin Smyth from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “This could have been an extremely serious incident but thankfully no-one was injured.

“Many people have, however suffered damage to their vehicles, which obviously comes at a cost.”

He added: “Investigations are on-going at this time to trace the vehicle which has lost the ramp and I would like to appeal to anyone who was travelling on the A1M that evening and believes they saw a car-transporter type vehicle, saw anything falling from a vehicle like that or who has any information which would assist our investigation.”

• Anyone with information should call the police non-emergency number 101.