A MAN was taken to hospital with serious injuries after falling from a motorway bridge.

Police were called at 5.30am today after a man was found unconscious on the hard shoulder of the M61 — close to the Cleggs Lane bridge between junctions three and four.

He was taken to Salford Royal Hospital with serious bleeding and major head injuries, police said.

The southbound carriageway was closed as police investigated the incident.

All lanes were re-opened by 9.15am.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “A 46-year-old man was found unconscious with head injuries at 5.30am.

“He has been seen to come off a bridge. He was on the hard shoulder close to the turn off for Kearsley Spur.

"He was taken to hospital and remains in a serious condition."

The incident caused delays to rush hour traffic stretching back to junction five at Westhoughton.

A spokesman for The Highways Agency said: "The incident was reported to us at 5.49am. It affected the southbound carriageway of the M61 between junctions four and three.

"One individual was involved in the incident, but no vehicles were involved.”

Police said there was no “third party” involved in the incident.

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 5.40am and arrived on the scene at 5.49am. We took a man by ambulance to Salford Royal Hospital with serious bleeding and a major injury."