THREE woman have been seriously injured after a 'heart breaking ' crash involving a taxi and car in Bolton this morning.

They were passengers in the taxi, a white Peugeot Expert E7, when it was involved in a collision with a blue Ford Focus in Bradford Street at 3.10am.

Two of the women were thrown from the vehicle and suffered serious head and spinal injuries. Another woman suffered neck and spinal injuries.

One woman remains in a critical condition.

The taxi was turning onto the slip road towards the A666 St Peter's Way at the time of the incident. 

The driver of the Ford Focus was seen abandoning the car and leaving the scene on foot.

Bradford Street was closed between Castle Street and Bridgeman Place, including A666 slip roads, following the crash.

Two fire engines from Bolton were on the scene and the women, all in their early thirties, were treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

The male taxi driver, aged 44, received minor injuries and was also treated by paramedics.

The car was seen driving erratically around Trinity Way and Bridgeman Street area in Bolton shortly before 3am before the collision.

Police are appealing for the driver of the car to come forward.

PC Paul Shore, Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “My thoughts are with the three women who were in the taxi last night and their families, it is heart breaking when innocent people are caught up in collisions in this way.

“It is vital that the driver hands himself in to police as soon as possible. They know who they are, and they know it is the right thing to do.

“I would urge anyone with information about what happened or who believes they know who the driver of the Ford Focus is to come forward to police to help the investigation. We would also like to hear from anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the blue Ford Focus in the Trinity Way and Bridgeman Street areas of Bolton, before the collision happened.”

Police were on the scene and the road was reopened at 9.30am.

Bolton fire station watch manager Tony McKenna said: "The women received very serious injuries.

"The taxi went into a spin and ended up on the southbound slip road of the A666 St Peter's Way.

"The other car was on the pavement when we arrived."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, Crimestoppers 0800 555111 or the Serious Collision Unit on 0161 856 4741.