A TEENAGER was taken from foster carers by her father and left fighting for her life after a car crash as they headed towards Scotland.

The girl's dad then attempted to jump from a motorway bridge on the M6 near Carlisle but was talked down by negotiators at the scene, police said today.

The 35-year-old man and his 14-year-old daughter, both from Darwen, were taken to hospital, where the girl was being treated for "life threatening injuries" in the intensive care unit today.

Police and Blackburn with Darwen Council's social services department are investigating the crash and the circumstances which led to the girl being driven away from an address in Blackburn.

Her father suffered an arm injury after he collided with another vehicle.

Police today said the man had not been arrested but was due to be questioned by officers.

They said the 35-year-old was driving on the northbound carriageway of the M6 south of Carlisle on Thursday when it came off the road.

The girl sustained serious injuries including one to her neck. Police said her father got out of the car and tried to throw himself from a bridge.

The carriageway was closed between junctions 41 and 42 from 7.50pm until 10pm while officers negotiated with him. The northbound carriageway was also closed for some time.

A police spokesman today said: "This girl has sustained very serious life threatening injuries and is currently in the intensive care unit at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

"The man was finally seized and taken to hospital for injuries to his arm. There was some suggestion he was injured in a collision with another vehicle.

"Inquiries are under way as to why he attempted to do this. We are also appealing for witnesses to the incident."

A social services spokesman said: "We have been informed by Carlisle police and are working with them to establish what is going on.

"The thoughts of Stephen Floss, director of social services, are with the girl and her family at this time."