TWO people were killed when a lorry careered across the central reservation of the M6 and into oncoming rush-hour traffic.

The accident, in which a Darwen motorist was also injured, caused tailbacks of more than 20 miles as emergency services dealt with casualties and cleared the motorway.

The 44-tonne heavy goods vehicle loaded with building materials was travelling south near Junction 28 at Leyland when it swerved into the path of two north-bound Nissan Micra saloons at 4.35pm yesterday.

Both drivers, a 59-year-old man from London and a 59-year-old woman from Wigan, were killed instantly.

A 48-year-old Darwen man crashed into the back of one of the Micras. He was left shaken and with minor injuries. The driver of the lorry, also from Wigan, was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital suffering serious head injuries.

His condition is not thought to be life threatening.

All three lanes of the north-bound carriageway were closed between junction 28 and Charnock Richard services and just one lane of the south-bound carriageway remained open.

North-bound tailbacks stretched almost 20 miles to junction 23 of the M6 at Golborne. Many drivers were trapped for hours between junctions 27 and 28.

Some motorists abandoned their journeys altogether and opted to spend the night at the four-star Jarvis Leyland Hotel in Leyland.

Roads surrounding the motorway felt the effects of the crash, with many becoming heavily congested. Barmaid Laura Fairhurst at the Hayrick pub, Lancaster Lane, Leyland, said: "I was walking to work at about 5.45pm and was shocked at how much traffic there was.

"I walked past a traffic jam about 200 metres long which stretched all the way past the Jarvis hotel and beyond.

One lane of each carriageway was closed through the night while emergency repairs to the central reservation were made. All three lanes of both carriageways re-opened at 6.30am this morning.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the smash to call 01772 614444.

There was more misery for northbound commuters on the M6 today.

At the Thelwall Viaduct in Cheshire, traffic was reduced to one lane after an accident.