A WOMAN was seriously injured after her car was involved in a collision with another vehicle on the M56.

The accident happened about 6.35am on Tuesday (March 16) as the 47-year-old woman, in a black Ford Ka, was joining the east-bound carriageway of the motorway via the slip road at Stoak, near Ellesmere Port.

She was involved in a collision with a grey BMW, driven by a man, aged about 50, who suffered minor injuries.

The female driver, who suffered serious chest injuries, was described as “poorly” and drifting in and out of consciousness. She was given oxygen at the scene and stabilised by medics as firefighters cut her out of the vehicle.

She was taken by ambulance to the Countess of Chester Hospital. The male BMW driver was not trapped but remained in his car for safety reasons. He had some chest pains caused by the air bag.

Watch manager Keith Nicholson of Ellesmere Port Fire Station said there was evidence street signs had also been involved in the collision. There was debris strewn across the carriageway.

Police set up diversions but there was serious congestion.