A serious crash shut the M55 heading away from Preston during Tuesday (17 July) evening.

Lancashire Police closed the motorway between the start of the M55 at Junction 3 (Kirkham) and Junction 4 at Blackpool around 5.30pm.

The North West Ambulance Service took a male motorbike rider to hospital for treatment after the crash.

Both the A583 and the A6 were heavy with diverted traffic following the crash.

Read more: Road in Woodplumpton to be closed for roadworks

Massive accident at very end of M55 (Blackpool). Dozens of emergency vehicles on scene, road completely blocked and queue tailed back to Kirkham at Junction 3 @NWmwaypolice @BBCLancashire

— Goose (@twiteringgoose) July 17, 2018

One lane was reopened around 6.30pm and all lanes reopened around 8.15pm and congestion quickly eased.

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