THE MOTORISTS injured in a head-on crash on the M65 yesterday have been named by police.

Officers said the driver of the Vauxhall Corsa, travelling east on the westbound carriageway, was June Murray, 78, of Bankhouse Street, Barrowford.

And Robert Nuttall, 52, of Gisburn Road, Barrowford, has been confirmed as the driver of the Honda estate, which her vehicle hit head-on.

Mrs Murray, who is seriously ill in hospital, drove the wrong way down the M65 and crashing head on into another car, police said.

A large section of the westbound M65 had to be closed for more than four hours yesterday, causing traffic chaos.

The eastbound carriageway was also shut for around half an hour to allow an air ambulance to land and take the pensioner to hospital.

Police said a number of motorists tried to escape the congestion by turning around and driving the wrong way down the M65 themselves.

Mrs Murray was in a ‘serious but stable’ condition in hospital.

Police said her Vauxhall Corsa was travelling on the westbound carriageway between Junction 12 at Nelson and 13 at Barrowford, at around 11.30am.

The Barrowford woman’s car smashed head-on into a Honda estate being driven by a 52-year-old man, officers said.

The man, also of Barrowford, was treated at Royal Blackburn Hospital for minor injuries, including a cut hand, before being discharged shortly after.

Mrs Murray was trapped in her car, suffering from serious arm injuries as well as shock.

Paramedics administered pain relief before transporting her to Royal Blackburn Hospital in just four minutes.

She was stable and able to talk to members of her family in hospital, according to police.

Sergeant Ian Milnes, of Lancashire Motorway Police, said: “This incident is being treated very seriously.

“We are now looking into how the woman ended up driving the wrong way along the motorway.”

The westbound section between 12 and 13 was partially re-opened with traffic restricted to one lane until just after 3pm, before fullly re-opening at around 4.30pm.

Air ambulance staff said the same journey by road would have taken more than 25 minutes North West Air Ambulance Charity Chief Executive Lynda Brislin said: “This is where the air ambulance comes into its own getting somebody seriously injured to hospital within minutes.

"This often makes a huge difference in the patient’s ability to make a quicker recovery.”