Terrified drivers forced to crash into barriers after grandmother drives 15 miles down the wrong side of motorway

Martha Harwood, 81, caused cars to swerve and one to crash into a barrier as she attempted to reach home on the westbound carriageway of the M65 in Lancashire.

The retired florist claims she became confused by the layout of a roundabout and, once on the motorway, was forced to continue "because there was nowhere else to go".

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She stopped only after being pulled over by a police car, investigating calls from hundreds of concerned motorists.

"I was at the new Whitebirk roundabout and I saw a signpost for Blackburn so I thought I would follow that," Mrs Harwood added.

"I have no idea how I ended up going the wrong way on the motorway. It is very confusing with all of the new signs.

"At first I didn't think there was anything wrong. It was quiet on the road. Then I saw cars coming towards me.

"It was quite scary and I didn't know what to do. There was nowhere for me to turn around so I just kept going."

Mrs Harwood, who has been driving since her 30s, added: "I haven't decided if I will stop driving. I feel a bit silly about what has happened."

Four passengers travelling in a Ford Fiesta, which crashed into the central reservation, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The motorway was closed for five hours as one passenger was cut free and the wreckage cleared from the road.

Mrs Harwood said she had been returning to her home in Darwen, Lancashire, on Monday at 10pm after visiting a friend in Longridge, Preston, for tea.

But she took a wrong turn at junction six of the M65 motorway and continued her journey for seven junctions, stopping in Barrowford.

She said: "The police were really nice when they stopped me. I didn't know what to do until they arrived.

"They asked if I had been drinking but I feel very strongly about that and would never drink and drive."

Although she has not been arrested, police have warned Mrs Harwood that she could lose her licence.

Pc Neil Goodison, of the police road policing unit which stopped the pensioner, said: "She was completely oblivious to what happened and did not even know there had been an accident.

"She came to a stop in front of my car when she saw my lights in the outside lane of the motorway.

"I turned her car around so she was facing the right way.

"She was trying to get to Darwen and realised she was on the wrong side of the road but didn't know how to get off."

Sergeant Dave Langton said it was fortunate no-one was seriously injured. He added: "It could have been worse and there may have been fatalities.

A spokesman for the RAC said it was rare for someone to drive down the motorway the wrong way for as far as 15 miles.

"We definitely do not suggest that older people give up driving completely, but they should make sure they have their sight and other facilities," he added.

"People should know their limitations because it is very easy to get confused especially on busy roads."