EAST Lancashire commuters heading into Greater Manchester will be faced will long delays into this evening after a 50-year-old man died in a crash involving two cars on the M61. 

The smash happened as the southbound carriageway of the M61 turns into the A580, heading towards the East Lancs Road, just before 11am this morning.

The man, who was driving a silver Toyota MPV, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The other car involved was a black Vauxhall Corsa, which was being driven by a young woman who is thought to have suffered minor injuries.

An air ambulance was scrambled to the crash site.

In the aftermath of the crash, Highways Agency staff were turning traffic stuck at the junction back in the direction of Kearsley.

The agency later said that the “trapped traffic” at the scene had been cleared and that the emergency services are working to re-open the road.

A tweet from the North West Motorway Police read: “M61 Southbound towards A580 likely to remain closed for minimum of 6 hours.”

PC Ian Cunningham from the police's serious collision investigation unit, said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the man’s family at this tragic time.

“We are working to piece together the events leading up to the collision and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and speak to us.

“If you have any information about the incident, please call the us on 0161 8564741.”