UK motorway reopens after coach given all-clear

LONDON, Sep 15 (Reuters) British police have reopened a section of motorway in northwest England that was closed for several hours today following reports of a suspicious package on a coach, a police spokesman said.

Police said one passenger was arrested after the coach driver reported he had been acting suspiciously. The arrest was not terrorism-related but no more details were released.

The coach was evacuated and the M62, a busy east-west route, was closed in both directions between junctions three and six.

''There were concerns because of this man's behaviour,'' a Merseyside police spokeswoman said. ''The coach has been declared safe following a thorough search by specially trained officers.'' The coach was believed to be heading from Liverpool to Manchester Airport and London before it was stopped, she added.

No one at coach operator National Express could be reached for comment.

Security was tightened in Britain after failed car bombings in London and an attack on Glasgow airport in June.

Police were already on high alert after four suicide bombers killed 52 commuters in London in July 2005.

REUTERS GJ HT1720