TWO people have died following a collision on the M6 last night.

The man and woman, who have not yet been identified, were killed in the accident involving three cars on the motorway between junctions 21 and 20, on the Lymm side of the Thelwall Viaduct.

No other people were seriously injured.

Fire crews had to cut the man and woman out of their car, which was a very difficult extraction, particularly for the female passenger, watch manager Mike Clark said.

The car was upright and it was not clear from the damage to it whether it had rolled over, he said.

The occupants of the two other cars had escaped and were on the hard shoulder when emergency services arrived.

As well as three fire engines and police, paramedics and a trauma doctor attended the scene.

The man and woman trapped in the car were later pronounced dead.

The road, southbound, was closed for six hours while police investigated following the crash at 9pm.

A woman from Warrington has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, police say.

Anyone with information should call Cheshire Police on 0845 4580000 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.