THREE people were taken to hospital after a car crashed into the central reservation on the M61 and overturned.

The incident happened between junctions three and four, for Bolton and Walkden, of the motorway on the southbound side at around 11am.

Three people, aged between 18 and 25, were taken to Salford Royal Hospital with injuries sustained in the crash.

One had suffered a dislocated shoulder and another had a large cut on their arm.

Firefighters reported that the Renault Clio had collided with the central reservation and bumped another 100m down the highway. Most of the front end of the car was destroyed in the crash.

North West Motorway Police initially said it was believed there were children in the car and warned drivers to approach with care.

However, they later tweeted that no children were involved in the incident.

The road re-opened by 1pm.

One lane of the northbound highway of the M61 is also closed between junctions six and eight due to a crash. That is also expected to be clear by 1pm.