A 24-YEAR-OLD man was airlifted to hospital after his car plunged down an embankment on the M61 on Sunday.

Four other people, from the Preston are, including a four-year-old girl, suffered minor injuries when the silver vauxhall Corsa left the carriageway at 12.40pm.

They were treated at the Royal Bolton Hospital, but were released after treatment. Motorists faced traffic chaos on the motorway and surrounding roads after police closed the southbound carriageway of the M61 between junctions 4 and 3 for three hours.

The seriously injured man, a rear seat passenger, suffered a broken wrist and cuts and bruises to his head and face and his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.