Workers escaped injury after a new bridge next to the Barton Bridge on the M60 partially collapsed this morning.

The huge concrete platform, which is part of a new lifting bridge beside the Manchester Ship Canal, fell around 60 feet to the ground.

Emergency services were called to the construction site at Trafford Way, Trafford, just before 9.30am amid concerns that someone could have fallen with or been trapped underneath the structure.

But the North West Ambulance Service has confirmed nobody was injured and all contractors working on the site have been accounted for.

For the latest updates on the accident follow our live blog

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and said it felt as if there was an “earthquake” in the area.

It appears a concrete platform being constructed between four 31 metre (102ft) high pillars fell to the ground on Monday morning.

Pictures of the scene after the collapse

The structure is part of a new lifting bridge which will carry a new dual carriageway over the Manchester Ship Canal, joining the Trafford Centre on one side to Salford.

Paul McKivitt, 27, a construction worker employed on a site nearby, told the M.E.N. he felt the “floor shaking” immediately after the bridge fell.

He said: “I was on top of scaffolding and heard a massive rumble. The whole building was shaking and I heard a loud noise.

(Image: Vince Cole)

“There was one ambulance, five police cars and a couple of fire engines. A bloke who I was working with thought it was an earthquake.

“It was like a train passing over head, it was very loud and went on for quite some time and shook the whole building.”

Other witnesses posted messages on social media sites voicing concerns somebody may have been hurt.

One Twitter user wrote: “Incident at Barton bridge with new structure. Fire and ambulances deployed. Massive noise and smoke like something fell.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “A bridge collapsed near the Barton Bridge structure next to the Manchester Ship Canal.

“We are liaising with the construction managers. Thankfully nobody has been involved.

Video: Collapse sounded like an 'earthquake'

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“The ambulance crew has been released. Police remain at the scene investigating.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “We were called at 9.34pm to a bridge collapsing near Trafford Way. Nobody has been injured.”

The lifting bridge is being constructed as part of a £50m project to improve traffic flow around the area.

There will be new roundabout layouts at junctions 10 and 11 of the M60.

Video: The scene shortly after the accident