SEVEN people including two children had to be cut out of cars following a smash in Blackburn.

Traffic was brought to a standstill in Larkhill as emergency crews worked to free the casualties and remove the debris.

Three air ambulances landed on fields off Whalley New Road over fears some of the motorists in the green Volkswagen and silver Citroen may have major trauma.

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However, after fire crews released the youngsters, they were taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital by road ambulance and the helicopters left without taking any patients.

Five adults were treated at the scene. It is not thought any of the motorists’ injuries were serious.

The road had to be closed while the cars were recovered, with traffic backing down onto nearby Barbara Castle Way.

A police spokeswoman added: “The road was completely blocked but started to reopen about an hour after the collision happened .”

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service said: “We attended a two-car collision with reports that seven people were trapped.

“There was no major trauma.”

The head-on crash, which happened on the mini roundabout at the junction of Whalley New Road and Brookhouse Lane, near to the Perry’s Peugeot garage, shortly before 3pm yesterday, has led some residents to call for improved safety measures.

Alan Cronshaw, who lives in St Michael’s Court, said there were often ‘near misses’ at the roundabout.

The 67-year-old said: “I was sat in my flat when I saw the helicopters coming over. It looked like the crash was pretty serious.

“I think that roundabout is quite dangerous.”

Brian Jackson, 72, of Trinity Court, added: “ The roundabout is very dangerous. People often do not see the signs saying give way.”

Shear Brow Cllr Suleman Khonat said: “I agree that there should be more signs.

“There are two roundabouts close together which does not help. It is very dangerous.”