Highways England have used CCTV footage of the dramatic moment a pizza delivery had a lucky escape after wandering on to the M1 motorway with his moped in an attempt to warn drivers of the dangers of stopping in the central reservation of motorways.

The rider was spotted on CCTV by Highways England teams, and traffic officers were assisted by police in removing him.

The reckless rider appears on the footage pushing his bike in the middle of the motorway at night, seemingly oblivious to the dangers of pushing a bike down the middle of a live motorway as traffic swerves around him.

After a few cursory glances, he then proceeds to amble across the motorway while pushing his bike, while drivers slam on their brakes and have to quickly changes lanes to avoid him.

Having crossed the M1 unscathed, he continued to wander with his bike down the hard shoulder of the M1, stopping under a bridge and removing his helmet to have a cigarette.

Highways England traffic officers were assisted by police in getting the biker off the M1, and he was eventually sent on his way without coming to any harm.

Caner Okanay, Highways England operations manager, said: “It really was incredible watching him just wander across a live motorway, seemingly oblivious to the fact he was crossing the M1 and not a quiet country lane.

“People need to be aware of where they’re driving and be responsible for their safety – no one should be stopping in the central reservation of a motorway.

“Fortunately he walked away from this unscathed, but you’ll see from the footage that this could have been a very different story.”