FOUR children were among 13 people injured in two pile-ups on the M74 last night.

The accidents - at Junction 5 Raith Interchange, just hours after the completion of major roadworks - closed two carriageways for several hours.

The first pile-up, involving five cars, was on the north-bound carriageway at 6.20pm.

Nine people were hurt, including three children, who were taken to Wishaw General Hospital. None of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

A woman was airlifted to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital suffering severe abdominal injuries.

As emergency services dealt with the accident there was a second pile-up on the south-bound carriageway.

There are fears the second smash was caused by drivers being distracted by the scene on the north-bound carriageway as they drove past.

Four people were injured in the second pile-up, involving three cars.

Among the casualties were a mother and a baby boy, who were taken to Wishaw General Hospital, and a man, who was taken to Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride. None of them was seriously hurt.

As reported in the Evening Times, major roadworks on the M74 caused seven weeks of traffic chaos. Speed restrictions were in force, while lanes were dug up and bridges extensively repaired, causing delays for thousands of drivers heading through Lanarkshire for Glasgow and the central belt.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old man was in a critical condition in hospital today after being hit by a taxi as he crossed Dumbarton Road in Glasgow's West End last night.

Police, who are appealing for witnesses, said the man was taken to the Western Infirmary after the accident at 11.25pm. It's believed he suffered serious head injuries.