A motorcyclist is in hospital after a crash closed the M65 at Preston during Monday night.

Lancashire Police closed the motorway in both directions around 8pm at Walton Summit.

The stretch of motorway between the M6 (Junction 1) and M61 (Junction 2) reopened around 11pm.

A police spokesman confirmed only a motorbike had been involved and had hit the central reservation.

The biker was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with a serious head injury.

The rider, a 49-year-old man from Wales, was riding a Yamaha R6 motorbike.

Sergeantt Chris Evans, of the Road Policing Unit, said: “This collision has left a man with some very significant injuries and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward and contact police.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 and quote log number 1411 of June 18.