POLICE have issued an appeal for witnesses after a van driver suffered serious injuries in a crash with a lorry.

At around 2.50pm on Thursday, a Ford Transit van travelling east along Bury and Bolton Road collided with an HGV travelling in the opposite direction.

The van sustained significant damage and the driver suffered a fractured right leg and two broken ankles.

He was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where he continues to receive treatment for his injuries. The driver of the HGV suffered minor injuries.

Constable Philip Turley said: “The driver of the van has suffered very serious leg injuries as a result of this collision and is in a serious condition.

“We need to ascertain exactly how these vehicles came to collide with each other, and the witness accounts of those people who were in the area at the time will be vital to our investigation.

“If you witnessed the collision, please contact police as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4742 quoting incident number 210416/1168 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.