TWO lanes of the M61 near Kearsley were closed for more than 45 minutes yesterday following a three-car collision.

Fire crews cut a 32-year-old woman from Bolton from the wreckage of her Peugeot 206. She was taken on a spinal board to Salford's Hope Hospital but is believed to have only suffered shock.

Three people in two other vehicles escaped unhurt. An off-duty fireman spotted the collision between junctions three and four at 2pm yesterday and dialled 999.