A MOTORIST is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a serious crash on the M6 this morning, Friday.

The accident, involving a HGV, a white van and a Silver Mercedes car, happened on the M6 southbound between junction 20 for Lymm and 19 for Knutsford.

Police say the motorist in hospital, a man in his 50s, was driving the Mercedes.

The southbound carriageway of the M6 remains closed between both junctions while accident investigation work takes place and a fuel leak is cleared up.

It is expected to remain closed until the early hours of Saturday due to the route needing to be resurfaced.

Congestion currently stretches back five miles to junction J21a for Croft, with queues also reported northbound as drivers slow down to look.

Travel time is estimated to be more than an hour. Trapped traffic is being turned around.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Emergency services were called to between junction 20 to junction 19 on the M6 southbound at 4.16am on Friday 13 August following reports of a collision involving a HGV, a white panel van and a silver Mercedes.

“The driver of the Mercedes, a man in his 50s, is believed to have sustained serious and life-threatening injuries.

“He has been taken to hospital.”

And the force has this afternoon appealed for witnesses to come forward.

In an updated statement released around 2pm, a spokesman said: "Officers are appealing for information following a serious collision on the M6 southbound.

"At 4.16am on Friday, August 13, a report was received of a collision on the M6 southbound between junction 20 and junction 19 involving two HGVs, a Ford Transit van and a silver Mercedes.

"The driver of the Mercedes, a 56-year-old man from Newcastle-under-Lyme, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

"The driver of the Ford Transit, a 58-year-old man from Bolton, and the driver of one of the HGVs, a 52-year-old woman from Redditch, both sustained minor injuries.

"Officers are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage of the vehicles leading up to or during the incident to get in touch."

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area, but those seeking to travel southbound should head eastbound on the M56 then southbound on the A556.

Traffic is also heavy on the M56 from junction 10 for Stretton, while delays can also be seen through Winwick, Rixton and Mere as traffic seeks alternative routes.

A spokesman for North West Motorway Police said earlier: “A full closure will be in place for some time. Fuel and debris is across all three lanes.

“Those trapped in the traffic, please bear with us. We will get to you. The slip roads on the M56 to the M6 will be closed.

“Fuel is leaking from one of the vehicles, therefore the full closure will remain in place.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number IML1060103 , or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.