The busy A59 through Burscough was closed for around four hours today after a serious RTA at the junction of Moss Lane and Red Cat Lane this morning.

Traffic travelling towards Preston was diverted via Square Lane while traffic towards Ormskirk and Southport was held up in 22 degree heat with an HGV driver from Hull at the head of the queue simply having to 'grin and bear' it.

One confused old lady said she waited for over three hours in vain for a bus to Ormskirk; traffic got back to normal at around 3.30pm after an accident investigator completed four or five skid tests in his Focus estate on the railway bridge.

This from the Ormskirk and Burscough Police FB pages: "We are appealing for information after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision.

The incident happened at about 11.10am today (Wednesday, May 23rd) when a Yamaha TDM 900 motorbike collided with a Nissan Cabstar on Moss Lane at the junction with Red Cat Lane at Burscough.

The motorcyclist, a 46 year old man from Eccleston, received broken bones and possible internal injuries and was airlifted by the NWAA to Aintree Hospital.

Sgt Adam Crossley, of the Road Policing Unit, said: “This collision has left a man with some significant injuries and I would appeal for any witnesses to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 0457 of May 23rd.