Part of the M606 was shut for almost five hours after a two-lorry pile-up.

Rescuers had to cut free a 60-year-old driver who was seriously hurt in his crushed cab, suffering multiple injuries.

The crash happened on the north-bound carriageway near the Staygate roundabout shortly after 9.30am yesterday.

Firefighters worked for 45 minutes to release the man, who was semi-conscious and trapped by his legs. He also had wounds to his stomach.

About 18 firefighters were involved in the rescue, working alongside paramedics who battled to stabilise the man.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called but heavy rain made it impossible to land, and the driver had to be taken by road to Leeds General Infirmary.

Watch manager Steve Manners, of Cleckheaton fire station, said: “The paramedics who were with the driver made it clear that time was of the essence. We had to get him out and be quick.

“We had to lift the driver out when it was safe enough and got him straight on to a stretcher. He wasn’t talking at that point but I think he’d been given something by the paramedics. He was in a poorly way.”

A spokesman at the Wakefield office of Crossling Plumbing & Pipeline Merchants confirmed one of its drivers was hurt in the crash.

The spokesman said: “All we know is that there has been an accident, we don’t know how it happened yet. We were contacted by the traffic police. We are trying to contact the driver’s family. He is from Wakefield.”