A WOMAN is in a serious condition in hospital following a crash during the early hours on Friday morning. 

The A56 Colne Road was closed in both directions for over three hours after a crash between a Nissan Juke and a Mercedes close to the Stone Trough pub in Kelbrook. 

Emergency services including the police, two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were called to the scene shortly before 6am.

Upon their arrival it was established that one of the people involved in the crash, a woman, has sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital. 

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "We were called to the A56 at around 5.39am on Friday. 

"Two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle attended and we had to take one patient to the major trauma unit at Preston Royal Hospital.

"The woman had sustained serious injuries to her neck and legs."

Traffic was heavy in the area and motorists were advised to find an alternative route as the incident was dealt with and a clean-up operation took place. 

The road was reopened at around 9.30am.