A MAN and a woman were taken to hospital with 'very serious injuries' after a four vehicle crash on the M65.

The incident took place between junctions 12 and 11 westbound just after 1.10pm yesterday.

Police said an 80-year-old man from Nelson suffered multiple fractures and the front seat passenger, an 86-year-old woman, suffered injuries to her neck and back after their Picasso was pushed off the carriageway and into the barrier after being hit by a Volvo skip lorry.

The car collided with a Nissan Juke.

Police, fire service and ambulance crews attended the incident which caused delays for several hours.

Firefighters said they used cutting equipment to release two people who were treated by paramedics.

Police said all lanes of traffic were blocked by the crash before emergency services helped clear the road.

A North West Air Ambulance spokesman said: "We were called out to a road traffic incident in Nelson on the M65.

"Our crew airlifted a patient to the Royal Preston Hospital."

Sgt Adam Dawson said: "This collision has left two people with very serious injuries and I would appeal for any witnesses to contact us."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 0564 of January 8.