A MAN and a woman have been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being cut out of a car following a crash on the M6.

Two lorries and a car were involved in the collision earlier today.

The M6 northbound was blocked following the multi-vehicle collision, with delays between junction 23 (Haydock Island) and junction 22.

An air ambulance was sent to the scene following the crash. 

One of the patients was airlifted to hospital while the other was taken by road.

A Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "MFRS attended an incident between J23 and J24 on the M6, Haydock, following reports of a road traffic collision (RTC).

"Crews were alerted at 12.25pm and two fire engines and the search and rescue team were on scene shortly after. Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) also attended.

"Crews arrived to find an RTC (road traffic collision) involving a car and two HGVs. The drivers of the HGVs were out on arrival, however the occupants of the car were trapped.

"Crews worked to remove the roof of the car and extracted the driver and passenger, both of which were conscious and breathing. Both casualties were transported to hospital for care.

"At 2.14pm crews handed the scene over to Merseyside Police and left."

A North West Ambulance spokesman added: "A man and woman were extracted from a car with the assistance of the fire service and taken to hospital.

"They both suffered major trauma-related injuries. One was taken to Aintree Hospital by road, and the other by helicopter."

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There was queuing through Winwick, Ashton-in-Makerfield and Lowton as drivers avoided the motorway.

Lanes have since been reopened