MOTORISTS faced rush-hour chaos yesterday after a serious crash caused a main road to be closed.

Newchurch Road, in Rawtenstall, was shut for around five hours yesterday morning to allow accident investigators to look into the cause of a smash between a Renault Kangoo van and a Vauxhall Astra.

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The 67-year-old driver of the blue Astra had to be cut free from his car by firemen and was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. The driver of the silver van also suffered minor injuries to his leg.

Both vehicles were badly damaged in the smash, which happened around 7am. The front of the car and the van folded in because of the impact.

The two vehicles had also spun and come to a stop facing across the road, near to the entrance to Marl Pits leisure centre.

The road was reopened around 1.40pm once the debris had been cleared from the carriageway of the 30mph road.

Insp John Fryer said: “It was quite a serious road traffic collision. The road had to be shut for accident investigation.

“The 67-year-old man was conscious and breathing but there were concerns due to his age. He was taken to hospital.”

Coun Colin Crawforth, who represents the Hareholme ward, said: “That road has always been a ratrun and with all the works going on in Bacup Road, it has increased the traffic even more.”

Coun Crawforth said he had campaigned for two years to have a speed camera installed in Newchurch Road.

He added: “Even though there is nothing to suggest speed had anything to do with this crash, the safety aspects on that stretch need to be looked at.”