POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a crash which brought a busy motorway to a standstill at the height of rush-hour.

And police have also released the details of two motorists who were taken to hospital.

Four cars were involved in the pile-up close to junction seven of the M65 near Clayton-le-Moors.

A Peugeot saloon car, a Citroen van, a Ford Scorpio and a Vauxhall Cavalier were all badly damaged in the smash.

The accident is believed to have been started by a spare wheel coming loose from a vehicle and bouncing across the carriageway.

Citroen driver Stephen Loftus, 48, of Ringstone Crescent, Nelson, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with bruises.

And Lee Wilcock, 28, from Hallam Road, Nelson, was taken to the same hospital with a broken leg.

The accident took place around 7.30am and caused a six-mile tailback on the westbound carriageway of the motorway.

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