TWO elderly women had to be cut out of a Mercedes after a crash on the M66.

The car had hit the central reservation on the southbound carriageway of the motorway, between Junction 1 at Ramsbottom and Junction 2 at Heap Bridge, and careered out of control for about 50 yards.

The driver and the front seat passenger in the car were not seriously hurt, but the two women in the rear had to be rescued by firefighters, who cut the car’s roof open.

They were suffering from neck and back injuries and were taken to hospital for further treatment, and were said to be “traumatised” by the incident.

Fire crews from Bury and Ramsbottom fire stations attended at about 1.30am, and were on the scene for about two hours.

Bury watch manager Gary Manock said the crash could have been caused by the high winds and wet conditions last night.