A WOMAN was taken to hospital with serious burns after a car caught fire on the motorway.

The M61 northbound carriageway was closed at the Blacko interchange where it merges with the M6 at 4pm on Friday.

Police said a Vauxhall Vectra had set on fire and it was believed that a man, woman and three children were in the car.

Last night the full extent of their injuries were not known, although a woman had suffered ‘serious burn injuries’ a police spokesman said.

The fire was put out by 5pm.

The road remained closed for several hours.