A DRIVER was trapped inside his car and pushed along in front of an articulated lorry for 60 yards in an horrific motorway accident which blocked one lane.

Firefighters from Nelson cut the roof off the Ford Fiesta, driven by John Purtill, 68, of Lydgate, Burnley, and paramedics removed Mr Purtill from the car on a spinal board.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital with suspected back and neck injuries, which did not prove as serious as first thought.

The accident happened after police said Mr Purtill pulled out in front of an articulated lorry on the M65 when he joined the motorway at junction 12 at 11.10am on Monday.

The accident blocked one lane for about 90 minutes while the emergency services freed Mr Purtill and his car was removed from the carriageway.

The driver of the 44 tonne Scania wagon David Mitchell, 54, of Ipswich, was shaken but not injured and continued on his way to deliver in Barnoldswick.