AN ELDERLY man has been left in a critical condition following a serious road crash on a busy motorway.

Both carriageways of the M77 in Ayrshire were closed yesterday after two cars collided around 1.40pm.

The man, 75, was in a red Ford Fiesta when the collision with a white Renault Kangoo happened on the northbound carriageway near Fenwick.

Both cars were travelling north when the accident happened. 

He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth hospital by helicopter, where he remains in a serious condition.

Two others, a 44-year-old female driver of the red car and a 15-year-old boy were taken to Hairmyres hospital but were released later yesterday after treatment.

A 26-year-old man was taken by ambulance to Hairmyres Hospital suffering from head and chest injuries, although they are not considered serious.

The road was closed both ways for around three hours to allow police to carry out recovery work between the Fenwick and Kingswell junctions.

The southbound carriageway was reopened around 4.30pm yesterday, and the northbound road was reopened before 8pm.

Sergeant Andy Johnston, Divisional Road Policing Unit, Irvine, is appealing for witnesses. 

He said:“A number of cars had stopped on the road due to road works when the crash happened so I would appeal to them, or anyone who saw the crash take place, to contact the Divisional Road Policing Unit at Irivine via 101 with any information they may have.”