A MOTORCYCLIST was killed when he was thrown from his bike after a crash with a lorry and hit by two other cars on the M61 motorway on Tuesday night.

The rider, a 44-year-old man from Bolton, crashed into the rear of a DAF tractor unit and was then struck by the two other cars as he fell into the road.

Police were called to the southbound carriageway between junction 8 at Chorley and Bolton West service station, near Adlington, at 7.50pm after reports that a man was injured a multi-vehicle crash.

When police arrived they found two nurses giving first aid to the rider, who was lying 150 metres away from his bike. The machine had been smashed into several pieces and was on fire. It is thought the nurses had been passing in a car when they saw the man and stopped to help him.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is believed he died from multiple injuries caused by the impact of the collisions.

Fire crews from Chorley were called to the scene to put out the fire and make other vehicles involved in the crash safe.

Several cars were involved in minor bumps as they tried to avoid the wreckage strewn across the carriageway.

Two women in their 20s were given treatment for whiplash and minor bruises.

Police closed the southbound carriageway of the M61 for more than four hours while accident investigators worked at the scene of the accident.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact Lancashire Police on 01772 614444.