In the first, on the eastbound carriageway at 3.23pm, people were trapped when a Transit van left the motorway and went onto the grass verge.

Firefighters who attended from South Shore Fire Station used special cutters and spreaders to free them.
Paramedics and the air ambulance attended and treated the casualties.
In the other incident, on the westbound carriageway at 3.40pm, four people received first aid from firefighters from Fulwood Fire Station following a collision.

The three separate incidents caused traffic chaos.

Two lanes were closed westbound between Junction 3 and 4 and one lane was shut on the eastbound carriageway following three separate incidents.

In the other two, a car set on fire on the westbound carriageway and a four car pile-up caused chaos for holidaymakers heading home.

Firefighters from Wesham Fire Station attended the car set on fire at around 2.50pm.

Crew manager James Plant said: "The driver noticed smoke coming through the bonnet so pulled up onto the hard shoulder.

"It had created quite a lot of smoke down the motorway. The flames were coming out of the front of the car but the driver was ok."

They then dealt with an accident on the other side of the carriageway when a transit van veered off onto the grass verge and through a fence.

Firefighters from South Shore fire station also attended the scene at around 3.20pm to free two people from the vehicle.

Mr Plant added: "The van had gone through a fence and onto its side. Two people were trapped and had to be cut free. The gentleman wasn't too bad but the lady had quite severe injuries to the chest and was air lifted to hospital."

Minutes later there was a four car pile-up just a few hundred yards down the westbound carriageway.

The cars collided at around 3.40pm. Firefighters gave four people oxygen while waiting for the ambulance service to arrive.

Meanwhile on Monday morning, commuters found themselves in standing traffic when a wagon had a blow out approaching the M55 westbound from the M6 at Broughton.