Driver arrested after giving breath sample as M6 reopens following serious crash near Preston

Emergency services were mobilised after a silver car overturned near junction 29 at around 9am.

The accident led to the motorway being closed between J29 (Bamber Bridge Interchange, M65) and J30 (Blacow Bridge Interchange, M61) for around an hour.

Lancashire Police said the driver has been arrested after providing a breath sample.

Fire crews had to rescue a person who had been trapped inside the overturned car wreck.

It is not clear whether anyone has been injured in the accident at this stage, but North West Ambulance Service has been approached for comment.

The Post has spoken to one of several people who tried to help the stricken driver.

Former fire officer Steve Ganner was at his allotment off Brindle Road when he heard an alarming sound from the direction of the motorway.

"It was a real screech of metal which went on for about seven or eight seconds," said Steve, who spent more than a decade in the service in Preston.

"I knew it was either something slipping down the motorway or a lorry had lost its load.

"When I saw what had happened, I scrambled over a fence and crossed the southbound carriageway - because I could see there was nothing coming - to get to the overturned vehicle.

"The guy was trapped, but speaking and there didn't seem like there was a risk of explosion.

"Another driver who had been following him said he [the driver of the crashed car] came on at the Leyland junction and the incident happened when he later moved from the third lane to the first."

There are still delays of at least 30 minutes with traffic queuing back to J28 at Leyland.

More to follow...