TWO women are still fighting for their lives after the car they were travelling in smashed through a safety barrier on the M61.

The crash happened at 12.55am on Sunday near a slip road to the A580 East Lancs Road. The BMW 320 came to rest on a field after crashing through a safety barrier.

Two passengers, a 27-year-old woman and a 31-year-old woman were taken to Salford Royal Infirmary with life-threatening injuries, where they both remain in a critical condition.

A 31-year-old man, who was driving, was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary. He remains in hospital.