A VAN flipped onto its roof and smashed into the central reservation of a motorway early today, injuring four people.

The driver and one of the passengers of the P-reg Mercedes Sprinter were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with head injuries while the remaining two were treated at the scene.

It is believed the van hit an object in the fast lane of the M61 close to junction six in Horwich before overturning and hitting the barrier.

Traffic built up for a short period after 7.15am but the wreckage was removed from the motorway by 7.40am.