A MAN was fighting for his life in hospital today after his car careered out of control and smashed into a tree.

Fire crews using hydraulic cutting gear battled for more than half an hour to cut the man free from the crumpled wreckage of the Vauxhall Nova saloon.

Police sealed off the scene of the crash on Victoria Road, Heaton, soon after 7.30am as emergency services battled to save the driver. Rush hour commuters were blocked from using Victoria Road in both directions between Chorley New Road and Old Kiln Lane.

The roof of the car had caved in so badly from the impact that it took firefighters more than 30 minutes to peel it off and free him.

The man, understood to be in his 20s or 30s, was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Bolton General with extensive multiple injuries. The car is believed to have gone out of control on the bend and clipped the kerb before tipping over with the roof striking the tree. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

The man, who has not yet been identified, was in a "very serious" condition and was being transferred to hospital in Manchester.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.