AN 81-year-old grandmother brought havoc to the M65 after driving the wrong way along the motorway for 15 miles.

Cars swerved, one piled into a crash barrier with its four occupants taken to hospital and the motorway had to be closed for five hours.

Martha Harwood, who was trying to get home to Darwen, said she had been confused by the new layout at Whitebirk roundabout.

The retired florist went the wrong way up the exit slip road for the westbound carriageway at junction six and carried on until Barrowford because "there was nowhere to turn around".

Police said Martha's Suzuki Ignis had been travelling at only 40mph and was eventually stopped by a police patrol car with flashing blue lights.

The Ford Fiesta crashed into a side barrier trying to avoid her.

This caused part of the motorway to be closed while officers cleared debris off the road and cut a passenger free.

No-one was seriously injured, although four passengers from the Fiesta were taken to hospital.

Martha was eventually stopped at around 10pm on Monday. Her Suzuki Ignis was seized and she was escorted home.

She was not arrested. Police said that at this stage they did not think it was in the public interest to bring charges against her.

However officers said her licence could be revoked.

Martha, of Blackburn Road, said she had been trying to get home after visiting a friend in Longridge for tea.

She said: "I was at the new Whitebirk roundabout in Blackburn and I saw a signpost for Blackburn so I thought I would follow that.

"I have no idea how I ended up going the wrong way on the motorway. It is very confusing with all of the new signs at Whitebirk.

"At first I didn't think there was anything wrong.

"It was quiet on the road. Then I saw cars coming towards me.

"It was quite scary and I didn't know what to do. There was nowhere for me to turn around so I just kept going.

"The police were really nice when they stopped me. I didn't know what to do until they arrived.

"They asked if I had had a drink but I feel very strongly about that and would never drink and drive.

Martha, who has been driving since she was in her thirties, said: "I haven't decided if I will stop driving. I feel a bit silly about what has happened."

Police Constable Neil Goodison, of the road policing unit, was the officer who pulled Martha over.

He said: "She was completely oblivious to what happened and did not even know there had been an accident.

"She came to a stop in front of my car when she saw my lights in the outside lane of the motorway.

"I turned her car around so she was facing the right way.

"She was trying to get to Darwen and realised she was on the wrong side of the road but didn't know how to get off."

Sergeant Dave Langton, of the motorway unit, said it was fortunate no-one was seriously injured.

He said: "It could have been worse and there may have been fatalities."

A spokesperson for the campaigning motoring organisation the RAC foundation said it was rare for someone to drive down the motorway the wrong way for as far as 15 miles.

He said: "We definitely do not suggest that older people give up driving completely, but they should make sure they have their sight and other facilities.

"People should know their limitations because it is very easy to get confused especially on busy roads."