Two people have suffered serious injuries after a crash between a car and a lorry.
Emergency services were called to the crash on the M6, near Wigan, at about 3.30pm on Thursday.
An air ambulance was also called to the scene on the southbound carriageway, between junction 26 for Orrell and 25 for Bryn.
Firefighters were also present and cut free a person trapped inside one of the vehicles.
A man and a woman, both in their early 40s, were rushed to hospital with serious injuries sustained in the crash.
The ambulance service confirmed that the man had suffered 'multiple injuries' while the woman was left with injuries to her hip and stomach.
The smash caused 'severe delays' as traffic was temporarily stopped on the southbound carriageway.
One lane remained shut as emergency services worked at the scene.
However, the delays continued for several hours. At one point, queues on the motorway stretched back more than six miles, according to Highways England.
A spokesperson for North West Ambulance said: "We were called to the M6 shortly after 3.35pm. We attended with a number of resources, including an air ambulance.
"Two people have been taken to hospital. One male and one female, both in their early 40s.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson added: "At around 3.30pm on Thurday, we were called to reports of a collision near to junction 26 of the M6. Emergency services attended.
"The crash involved a lorry and a car."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service said: “We were called at around 3.35pm on Thursday to a road traffic collision on the M6 Southbound between junctions 27 and 26.
“Three fire engines from Wigan and Chorley quickly attended the scene, alongside the Technical Response Unit from Leigh.
“The collision involved two vehicles. Firefighters used cutting equipment to release a casualty trapped in one of the vehicles, who was then taken to hospital.
“Fire crews were at the scene for around one hour and 40 minutes.”
