A WOMAN was airlifted to hospital yesterday after being involved in a two-vehicle collision.

Lanes on both sides of the M65 between junctions seven and eight were closed following the incident shortly after 11am.

The woman, who had been travelling towards Burnley, was cut out of the car by the fire service and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with suspected underbody injuries including to her shoulder.

The emergency services were called to the scene and the lanes surrounding the van and car involved were closed.

The motorway was closed while the air ambulance landed on the east-bound carriageway before taking the woman to hospital.

A recovery vehicle was then used to remove the damaged vehicles from the road which was reopened shortly after 2pm.

No injuries were sustained by the driver of the van.

A spokesman for the North West Air Ambulance said: “I can confirm that we attended an incident on the M65 after we were called to the scene at 11.06am.

“We arrived on the scene a short time later and took a woman in her forties to Royal Preston Hospital.

“The incident involved a van and a car and the woman had to be cut out of the car for her to be taken to hospital.

“She sustained injuries to her underbody including her shoulder but they are not believed to be serious.

“No injuries were sustained by the driver of the van.”

  • East Lancashire motorists have been warned to take care whilst on the roads with temperatures expected to drop over the coming days.

Rain is forecast to hit East Lancashire this weekend which could turn to snow and form ice over the nights.

Temperatures are also due to drop below freezing from midnight each night which could cause hazardous conditions for drivers, according to road safety experts.

Motorists have been told to allow extra time for their journeys and not to drive over the speed limit.