A WOMAN in her 60s was cut free from a car after a rush-hour motorway smash.

The crash on the northbound carriageway of the M61 led to all three lanes being closed, causing huge tailbacks.

Commuters were delayed for about an hour following the collision at 7.25am yesterday between junction four at Farnworth and junction five at Westhoughton before the road was reopened.

One of the cars had crashed into another, causing it to wedge up against the central reservation.

Because the door mechanism of that car jammed, the woman could not get out, as the passenger side-door was pushed against the central reservation.

The fire service were then required to cut the roof off the car to free the woman, who was aged in her 60s.

She was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital as a precaution with a back injury, though the injuries were not believed to be serious, while the driver of the other vehicle was unhurt.

One car was badly crumpled at the front and back and had to be towed away on a recovery truck.

A diversion was put in place to ease traffic problems before the motorway was fully reopened at about 8.30am.

Police said they would not be investigating the crash any further as they did not believe any criminal offences had been committed.

A fire service spokesman said: "At 7.41am on MAy 28 two fire engines from Farnworth, one from Bolton Central and the technical response unit from Leigh attended a road traffic collision with persons trapped on the M61 northbound.

"The collision involved one vehicle with one person trapped.

"Firefighters extricated the casualty by removing the roof of the vehicle, using hydraulic cutting equipment.

"Crews were on scene for approximately 70 minutes."

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service said that two ambulances were sent to the crash, but only one was needed.