A WEATHER warning has been put in place ahead of predicted 70mph winds battering East Lancashire this weekend.

The Met Office said gusts could reach near hurricane levels after several days of stormy weather in the area.

Yesterday roads were closed after a series of incidents blamed on the wind.

There was an 11-car smash on the M6 near Samlesbury at 8am while Colne Road in Brierfield was shut after scaffolding on a home started to collapse.

A spokesman for the Met Office said west to southwesterly winds are expected to increase during the weekend with gusts 60 to 70 mph possible.

A warning of heavy rain has also been issued.

The Highways Agency has also issued an ‘amber alert’ over the high winds.

Two lanes of the M6 were closed from 8am on the southbound carriageway near the junction with the M61.

Police also said there were several accidents in the queues behind the accident.

No-one was seriously injured but there were major delays as a result of the accident.

Police shut Colne Road in Brierfield from around 8pm on Thursday following concerns over the damaged scaffolding.

Crew manager Rick Courtney from Burnley fire station said the conditions made it too dangerous for his firefighters to attempt to secure the scaffolding.

He said: "A large amount of the scaffolding had come away from the end-terrace building and the winds had bent many of the scaffolding poles.

"It was too windy and too dangerous to send anyone on to the scaffolding so the police had to close the road and wait for specialists to make the scene safe."