A YOUNG woman cheated death when she fell from her car as she drove down the M56 near the Lymm junction on Saturday afternoon.

Motorists watched in horror as the 28-year-old woman from Parkgate, Neston, hurtled on to the carriageway after falling from the driver's door of her car just before 4pm.

Her car then careered into the central reservation. Fortunately the woman was travelling alone and was the only casualty. There were no other vehicles involved.

The woman, who had been reported missing earlier that day sustained serious head injuries, a fractured arm, a broken pelvis and extensive cuts and bruises.

Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene to attend to the woman and to make the area safe following the crash.

A spokesman for the Mersey regional ambulance service said: "We received a call reporting that there was a woman on the motorway. We sent four ambulances and the woman was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital.

"She was very lucky, the car was probably travelling at between 60 and 70mph."

As the GUARDIAN went to press, the woman was still detained at Wythenshawe Hospital and her condition was described as serious but stable. There are no suspicious circumstances.