THE M65 had to be closed this afternoon after a car crashed into the central reservation.

The incident happened between junctions five and six at around 2pm and involved the Ford Fiesta overturning before being left in the outside lane.

The motorway had to be closed for 15 minutes by police.

Firefighters from Blackburn, Accrington and Darwen attended the scene and the driver involved was treated by paramedics.

A spokesman for the fire service said that the driver was not seriously injured and the patient was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for further treatment.

Hesaid: "There was quite a bit of damage to the bonnet and the roof of the car, the windscreen was smashed and there was quite a lot of debris on the road."