A DRIVERS’ group has called on motorists to be safe in adverse weather conditions after two crashes on the M65 yesterday.

Queues took hours to disperse following both collisions which happened between junctions seven and eight.

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The emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 7.30am after receiving reports of a car in the outside lane that had hit the central reservation.

Traffic was backed up while the car was removed from the lane and onto the hard shoulder.

A man in his 30s was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital with suspected neck and back injuries, which are not thought to be serious.

The emergency services were also called to the same stretch of motorway after a car overturned and landed in a field. The North West Ambulance Service received reports that a man was trapped in the Ford Focus car shortly after 9.20am.

A man in his late 20s was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital with a minor head injury.

The air ambulance was called to the scene but didn’t land after it was told that it wasn’t needed.

A spokesman for the AA said: “Sometimes when it’s the first spell of bad weather after the summer drivers can be a bit caught out by it.

“It can come as a bit of a shock for drivers like the first ice or snow of the year but in fairness it was warned about.

“It’s often the case that drivers are thinking too much about their Monday morning than about the weather.

“An increase in rain can severely affect driving conditions and visibility. Our advice is always to take care on the roads when there is adverse weather conditions and to leave plenty of time for journeys.”

The wet weather is due to continue until the end of the wee.

Gusts of 16mph being expected on Friday and with highs of 14C.