Person feared dead in Wigan rush-hour smash with HGV

Firefighters spent more than an hour cutting the occupants of a black Vauxhall Zafira from its wreckage following the collision with an HGV on Billinge Road at Winstanley shortly after 4.15pm on Wednesday.

An onlooker said: “It looked a terrible mess. I can’t imagine anyone survived that crash in the car it was that badly damaged. The fire brigade were a long time trying to free whoever was inside.”

The main road has been sealed off as emergency services continue to work at the scene, causing major traffic disruption.

Police would only confirm that there had been a collision between the Zafira and a lorry and there was no information currently on casualties so far.