UPDATE: Traffic easing after smash closed M6

All lanes of the M6 at junction 31 have now reopened following multi-vehicle smash.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Sep 2015, 16:12 BST

The M6 southbound is closed due to a crash near the M61 junction

An air ambulance was called to the southbound carriageway near the Tickled Trout at 11.30am on Thursday, after three cars and a van collided.

Two people were trapped in one of the vehicles and two fire crews from Preston and Leyland attended, using hydraulic cutters to remove the roof of the vehicle to rescue the casualties.

Two lanes southbound were blocked by the accident, but later both sides of the motorway were temporarily closed so the air ambulance could land.

It is not known what injuries have been sustained.

Significant delays built up in both directions, but all lanes were reopened at 1.50pm.