A TWO car collision on a notorious stretch of road has led to a call for a safety review.

The crash on the A59 at Clitheroe near the Sabden junction saw motorists walk away with minor injuries but it has renewed fears over the notorious stretch of highway.

Ribble Valley Council leader Michael Ranson said the incident showed a need for a renewed look into safety on the road.

Over the years there have been a number of high profile accidents on the road and fatalities.

The incident yesterday at 7.30am saw a collision after one of the vehicles crossed the central line and was struck by another.

Coun Ranson said: β€œIt is not yet clear what happened but that road is notorious. The safety of the road can never be reviewed too often. It is important it is looked into properly.”

Highways councillor for Lancashire County Council Tim Ashton said he would be awaiting the police report to see if safety needed to be reviewed.

The two car collision closed the A59 during rush hour as emergency services responded to the accident involving a Ford Ka and a Fiat Bravo.

Firefighters used cutting equipment to remove the roof off the Ford Ka as a safety precaution in case of spinal injuries. Drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospital suffering minor injuries.

There was a road block on the A59 from the roundabout at Whalley Road into Clitheroe up until the Pendleton turn off. The crash caused traffic congestion on the A59 and in Clitheroe until just after 9am.

Last year Darwen father-of-two Ronald Birch, died on the A59 when his motorbike collided with a lorry near Sawley. In the past decade there have been more than 20 accidents on that stretch of the A59.

In August 2008, a 17-year-old boy died between Sawley Road and Mill Lane, near to the then County Foods factory, when his van collided with an on-coming Land Rover Discovery.

In May 2008, a 67-year-old cyclist died after he collided with a black Ford Focus.