A man was rescued from a car and taken to hospital after a "serious" crash on the M61 near Kearsley in the early hours of this morning, Friday.

Emergency services including police and firefighters were called to the scene at around 5.30am after the crash on the motorway between junctions 2 and 3.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that one man was taken to hospital following the incident.

Fire engines from Farnworth, Whitefield, and Broughton stations, as well as the technical rescue unit from Ashton attended the scene.

No other casualties have been reported.

The section of the motorway was sealed off and diversions were put in place leading to heavy traffic.

A GMFRS spokesperson said: “At around 5.30am on Friday, May 27, fire crews were called to reports of a road traffic collision on the M61 near Kearsley.

“Three fire engines from Farnworth, Whitefield, and Broughton stations, as well as the technical rescue unit from Ashton, quickly attended the scene.

"The collision involved one car.

“Firefighters used specialist equipment to extricate a man from the car.

"He was then taken to hospital by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).

“GMFRS crews were in attendance for an hour and 15 minutes.”

The M61 is now closed northbound between J2 and 3, as well as the link road from M60 J14 for the A666.

National Highways North West expects the road to be closed "for a few hours."

A spokesperson from National Highways advised motorists to divert down the A6 and re-join the A666 at the roundabout.

Traffic data company Inrix have reported that all lanes reopened at around 15:20 and that all traffic has now returned to normal.