PART of the M61 motorway heading out of Bolton has been closed after a three-car smash.

Lanes three and four of the motorway, anticlockwise, near Junction 3 at Farnworth have been closed after three vehicles crashed into each other at about 2.20pm.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing one of the cars facing the wrong way round, with drivers forced to swerve around it as they headed towards the M60.

The crash was called in by an off-duty paramedic who is tending to people involved, but no serious injuries have been reported.

Police said everyone involved was able to get safely out of their vehicles and on to the hard shoulder.

Bolton News reporter Charlotte Duncker witnessed the immediate aftermath of the crash.

She said: "As I was coming around the bend I could see a blue car facing the wrong way round and two other cars side by side that had crashed into each other.

"It was quite scary as cars were having to swerve around it."

Police remain at the scene and the lanes continue to be closed.