UPDATED: Three hurt in rush-hour M55 smash

They were involved in a three-vehicle smash on the east-bound carriageway between Kirkham and the Broughton Interchange at around 8.20am.

None were seriously hurt, a spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said.

An air ambulance was called to the scene and landed in a field but did not take anybody to hospital.

Two patients were taken to Royal Preston Hospital and one was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, but all three were by road, the spokeswoman added.

One 999 caller told police she saw motorists swerving to avoid two dead swans lying in the road seconds before the crash, a force spokeswoman said.

Two lanes were initially closed, although one was later re-opened. The final lane re-opened at around 11am.

Fleetwood Road in Greenhalgh, just off junction three, was also the scene of traffic chaos when a lorry jack-knifed after colliding with a car at around 9.20am, leaving the road partially blocked, police said.