THREE people suffered fractures after a head-on collision between a car and a private hire vehicle in Over Hulton last night.

The two vehicles, a Ford Mondeo taxi and a Rover 620 were travelling in opposite directions along Salford Road at 11.15pm when they crashed at the junction with St Helens Road.

Two passengers in the Rover were thrown from the car and firemen had demolish a garden wall in order to get the taxi driver out of his vehicle. They then helped paramedics to lift the man out of the badly damaged car.

The front seat passenger, a 23-year-old man from West Gorton, suffered a fractured leg and head injuries, while a 34-year-old from Chorlton fractured her right arm.

The 22-year-old taxi driver, from Worsley, suffered a broken leg and all three were detained in the Royal Bolton Hospital for treatment.

The 27-year-old Rover driver, from Rochdale, escaped unhurt.

The road was closed for almost four hours while accident investigators attended the scene.

Traffic Police from Bolton are appealing for witnesses to the crash. Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 5972.