A 61-YEAR-OLD woman was seriously injured when her car flipped over on the M62 in West Yorkshire.

The casualty from Bolton was travelling as a passenger when the crash happened near Huddersfield at about 1pm yesterday.

The Toyota Yaris hit the central barrier on the eastbound carriageway near Junction 24, causing traffic chaos between Greater Manchester and Leeds.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the woman suffered a serious head injury in the crash and was taken to Leeds General Hospital.

The driver and another passenger escaped with minor injuries.

Emergency services were called and both carriageways were shut to allow an air ambulance to land.

Commuters faced delays of more than an hour between Saddleworth, Huddersfield and Leeds as queues stretched back from Junction 24 to Junction 21.

The westbound carriageway reopened at 2pm on Tuesday and the eastbound lanes shortly after 6pm.