A WITNESS appeal has been launched after a crash on the M6 left a man with serious injuries.

Police were called at about 3pm on Wednesday after receiving reports of a number of collisions close to Junction 35.

A BMW travelling northbound had been involved in a collision with the central barrier.

The driver, a 34-year-old man from Blackburn, got out of the vehicle and crossed the carriageway, standing behind a barrier on the hard shoulder.

A Skoda Octavia, also travelling northbound, was then involved in a collision with the driver of the BMW.

The 34-year-old man suffered a serious head injury, fractures to the upper body and internal injuries.

He was taken by Air Ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital for treatment and is in a serious condition.

The driver of the Skoda, a 41-year-old man from Edinburgh, was not injured.

A total of eight other vehicles were also involved in collisions near the time of the incident on the northbound carriageway.

A second collision, involving five vehicles on the southbound carriageway, happened at about 3pm.

No serious injuries were reported and the road re-opened a short time later.

The M6 was closed northbound for six hours while accident investigators attended the scene and vehicles were recovered.

Officers are appealing for anyone with information following the incident, including dashboard mounted camera footage of the collisions, to come forward.

Sgt Steve Hardman, of Lancashire Police, said: “We are investigating a serious collision on the M6.

“A number of vehicles were involved, with one man suffering serious injuries.

“We are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

“We understand there were exceptional weather conditions during the time of the collisions and would ask anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

“Furthermore, if you helped to move any of the vehicles involved to the hard shoulder before police arrived, please get in touch.”

Anyone with information can on 101 and ask for Lancashire Police.

Details can also be sent via email to 2385@lancashire.pnn.police.uk, quoting log 0843 of January 16.