TWO men were taken to hospital after a crash on the M65 near Blackburn.

The two-vehicle crash happened on the westbound carriageway between junctions three and two at around 9am today.

A man, in his 50s, who suffered a head injury and a man, in his 20s, with a spinal injury, were taken to Royal Preston Hospital. 

One of the men had to be cut out of a car by firefighters, with three fire engines from Darwen and Bamber Bridge along with the urban search and rescue team attending the incident. 

Two ambulances and an operational commander from the ambulance service, along with highways England and the police attended the scene. 

An ambulance service spokesman said: "We were called to a collision involving two vehicles on the M65 between junctions three and two near Blackburn.

"Two ambulances are on the scene along with an operational commander.

"A man in his 50s with a head injury and another man in his 20s with a spinal injury have been taken to Royal Preston Hospital." 

The crash led to the entry slip road and one lane of the westbound carriageway being closed.

Traffic was heavy to junction four for Darwen and Blackburn South while it was also slow on the opposite carriageway.

The carriageway was fully reopened at 11.20am.