MOTORISTS are being urged to avoid the M65 after a five vehicle crash this morning.

One lane is closed and there is queueing traffic on the M65 Eastbound between Junctions 7 and 8 after the incident involving four cars and a van.

A police spokesman said: "It happened around 9.05am where there was a five vehicle crash. 

"The ambulance was in attendance."

A spokesman for the North West Amulance Service said: "We were called to 9.07am and we took two casualties to hospital.

"One of them suffered knee and eye injuries and major trauma and had to be helped from the car and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital.

"Another patient was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital with neck and head injuries."