TWO young men are fighting for their lives after the car they were in crashed into a tree in the early hours.

Police confirmed the two — believed to be in their late teens or early twenties — are in a critical condition.

There were four people in the car — all understood to be around the same age — with two trapped inside the vehicle with firefighters having to cut them free.

Emergency services were called to the scene at around 5.15 AM.

The road was closed into late afternoon from Beaumont Road to Regent Road in Lostock, as police started their investigations into the crash.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) provided an update shortly before 5pm to say that all of the roads have now been reopened.

Rush hour traffic was turned back on itself this morning and motorists reported severe congestion on surrounding roads.

Fire crews freed two people  before they were treated by paramedics.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Four people were in the car. Two were trapped by the legs and we had to extricate them from the vehicle.”

The North West Ambulance service mobilised a rapid response vehicle,. three ambulances, four Hazardous Area Response Teams - which are sent if there is a major incident - and an advanced paramedic.

A spokesman said two people suffered “serious injuries” and two were described as "walking wounded".

Two people were taken to Salford Royal Hospital and two people to Royal Preston Hospital.

A police spokesman said: "Shortly before 5:15am, police were called to Beaumont Road in Lostock to reports of a collision involving a car and a tree.

Four people have been injured."

A motorist said: "I saw a lot of traffic police in the area.

"The traffic was backed up for miles with police turning traffic around, I was turned around at the Beehive roundabout.

"It must have been a very serious accident for the road to be shut for so long."

Anyone who saw the accident or with information can contact police on 101.