POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a crash caused Traffic chaos in Whitefield town centre on Saturday.

Ten people, including four members of the deputy Mayor of Bury's family, were injured in the two-car crash.

They were Councillor Wilf Davison's daughters, Fiona Davison from Prestwich, and Louise Harrison, and her two children, Alex (11) and three-year-old Rosie, all from Whitefield.

They escaped serious injury when their Ford Escort collided with a Vauxhall Corsa on Saturday afternoon in Whitefield town centre.

Mr Davison's family, and a 33-year-old man also travelling in the Escort, were cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. They were all placed on spinal boards and taken to North Manchester General Hospital.

All five were treated for minor cuts and whiplash injuries. Only Alex was kept in overnight for observation.

Bury New Road between its junction with Radcliffe New Road and Church Street, Whitefield, was closed for several hours on Saturday afternoon as fire crews freed the occupants from both cars and a fleet of six ambulances ferried them to hospital.

The accident happened at 1.20pm outside the Bulls Head. Police said the Corsa, driven by a 21-year-old man from Bury, collided with the Escort which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Fire crews had to cut away the roof of both vehicles to free the ten casualties

The passengers in the Corsa have not been named by police but they included a 21-year-old woman from Shaw, a seven-year-old boy from Northwich, a 16-year-old girl from Bury and an 18-year-old girl from Bury. They were all taken to Fairfield General Hospital.

The women aged 21 and 18 both suffered a broken bone in their backs and remain in hospital.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact police at the East Area Traffic Unit on 0161 856 8073.