RUSH hour traffic ground to a halt today after M65 tailbacks were caused by a series of crashes - and curious drivers.

Two separate collisions within yards of each other occurred between Junction 3 at Hoghton and Junction 4 at Lower Darwen on the westbound carriageway at 7.50am.

Eight vehicles were involved. No-one was trapped and all the drivers escaped without serious injury.

It caused traffic to queue back more than five miles to Junction 8, Accrington, from 8.45am.

There were also tailbacks eastbound towards Blackburn caused by drivers looking at the debris.

There was also congestion on minor roads around the motorway junctions as motorists tried to avoid the tailbacks.

A police spokesman said "rubbernecking" incidents, where motorists crash while looking at crashes, were always more dangerous on motorways. They added: "Generally people do pay more attention to what is occurring at a crash scene than what is happening on the road.

"On motorways, cars are travelling at greater speeds and travelling closer together. Concentration has to be greater and constant on motorways."

Claire Watmough, of AA Roadwatch, said: "The tailbacks were worse on the opposite side caused by people having a bit of a nose. They need to think more carefully about the trouble this causes and use their common sense.

"It is a macabre thing to do to look for carnage anyway."

Fire crews were called from Blackburn along with the incident support unit from Accrington but left the scene at 8.20am.

A police spokesperson added: "Initial reports were for a small collision but reports have increased to eight cars.

"Two collisions in close proximity happened near the central reservation and we will continue to work on what caused them.

"Police officers were on scene to help divert traffic as recovery vehicles were called to remove the cars."