RESIDENTS have spoken of their shock after a van crashed through the front of a hair salon in Darwen.

A yellow Mercedes Vito towing a trailer collided with a stationary silver Ford Transit and hit the front of Flick Chicks Hair Design in Cemetery Road.

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A man and a woman suffered minor injuries in the collision, which happened at around 6.10am on Monday, but did not require hospital treatment.

The owner of the stationary van, Lee Kent, was seconds away from entering the vehicle and said he was thankful for his lucky escape.

Mr Kent, who is a butcher, said: “I was just going to work. I came down the stairs and was just getting my keys when I heard this big bang. I came outside and saw what had happened.

“It was quite a lucky escape – thirty seconds later and I would have been sat in the van.”

A neighbour said: “I was just walking upstairs with a cup of tea when I heard this big bang. I came down and saw that outside. Another couple of yards and it would have come through my front door.”

A spokeswoman for Flick Chick Hair Design said they were hoping to open on Wednesday and would keep customers updated.

The collision caused major congestion as Cemetery Road was partially closed by police for three-and-a-half hours whilst accident-investigation work was carried out and the vehicles were removed.

The incident, the cause of which is still under investigation, has led to calls for traffic-calming measures to be introduced on the road.

Mr Kent said: “As a general thing, this road is not safe. It needs sorting before somebody gets seriously hurt.”

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to call police via 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.