FIVE cars were involved in a crash outside a taxi rank in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incident happened near Bradshawgate Taxis, in Bradshawgate at around 3.20am.

A couple of cars involved were described as "badly damaged" although a number of the cars involved were just parked and "shunted into others."

One of the drivers involved is said to have fled the scene and one man was taken to hospital after complaining of neck and back pain.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said:"A couple of cars were badly damaged.

"There were a lot of cars parked up and cars were shunted into others.

"One of the vehicles, we believe the occupants had fled the scene at the time of the accident - that was the most badly damaged car.

"One of the car's drivers was complaining of neck and back pain.

"The advice for the North West Ambulance Service was to have an extracation done where he be isolated from his neck downwards.

"We stabilised the vehicle, used our cutting equipment and extracated him on a long board, on which he was conveyed to Royal Bolton Hospital.

"He wasn't suffering any major trauma but Bradshawgate was shut down for a couple of hours while police attended."