THE Daresbury Expressway has been closed in both directions after two crashes this morning.

A Ford Transit van and a Mercedes car were involved in the first accident near to Daresbury Labs shortly after 8am today, Tuesday.

This collision, which happened on the northbound carriageway in the vicinity of the bridge over Runcorn Road, shut the route in both directions between Chester Road and Pitts Heath Lane - affecting traffic between Daresbury and Runcorn.

The North West Ambulance Service attended the scene, but no patients were taken to hospital.

While this closure was lifted shortly before 10am, a second accident involving five cars occurred at around 9.15am.

A Ford Focus, a Volkswagen Golf, a Vauxhall Insignia, an Opel, a Honda Civic and a BMW were involved in the accident.

Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene, with the road being shut near to Manor Park Avenue.

Two men and one woman were rushed to hospital after the incident, while two other casualties did not require hospital treatment.

The road has since fully reopened.