A POLICE officer had to be cut free from his car after a motorist collided with the patrol vehicle on the M61 near Farnworth.

The BMW 3-series estate police car was caught in a collision with a Fiat Stilo on the Southbound carriageway between Junction 4 and Junction 3 just after midday yesterday.

The officer had parked in the hard shoulder of the motorway when it was struck by the Fiat.

It is believed the Fiat driver lost control of the vehicle, hitting the central reservation and spinning across the three lanes into the parked patrol car.

Three fire crews were called to the scene at 12.34pm and cut the officer from the vehicle.

Police confirmed on social media that the officer had been taken to hospital and was doing well.