THERE are severe delays on the M6 in Lancashire this evening after two separate crashes involving multiple vehicles. 

One of the crashes happened on the southbound carriageway and one northbound, both close to junctions 30 and 31 for Salmesbury.

Traffic is tailing back on both carriageways with congestion also on Preston New Road at Samlesbury and on the M61 and M55. 

Blackburn and Darwen Police said on Facebook: "We are currently at the scene of two collisions on the M6, one on the southbound carriageway and one on the northbound, both close to junctions 30 and 31 for Salmesbury.

"We are expecting there to be tailbacks and surrounding roads may well be congested, so we would advise motorists to avoid the area if possible."

Police also tweeted to say that several vehicles have been witnessed using the hard shoulder 'inappropriately' during the chaos.

Roads and traffic monitoring service Inrix said: "Queueing traffic due to earlier accident, multiple vehicles involved on M6 Southbound from J31 A59 Preston New Road (Samlesbury) to J30 M61. Congestion to J32 (M55 Broughton interchange). The M55 eastbound is also congested to beyond J1 (Fulwood)."