Police release shocking images of 'catastrophic' motorway smash

The pictures show a car that was devastatingly torn apart after cars and a lorry slammed into one another near to junction 8 at around 6.30pm on Monday December 11.

And ambulance services have revealed that all the drivers miraculously escaped the accident with only minor injuries.

Police thanked people who had been held at the scene of the crash.

A force spokesman tweeted: "Unbelievably only minor injuries. Thank you for your patience whilst we dealt with a catastrophic scene."

A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said: "We treated three patients with minor injuries at the scene.

"Another man, in his 70s, was taken to Chorley District Hospital with minor injuries."

Police say lanes on the motorway were closed for a several hours while the scene was cleared.