A CAR passenger has been left with serious injuries after a vehicle clipped the grass verge in Withnell.

Police say the 19-year-old was in a Vauxhall Corsa which struck the kerb on the A675 Bolton Road at around 11.l0pm on Thursday.

He suffered serious internal, leg and head injuries and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he remains in a stable condition today.

Investigators believe a Mercedes C220 car was travelling together with the Corsa. The Mercedes vehicle stopped briefly at the scene before driving away.

Sgt Finn Quainton, of the road policing unit at Chorley, said: "This collision has left a young man with very serious injuries and I would urge anyone with any information about what happened to come forward.

"We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the Vauxhall and the Mercedes travelling together prior to the collision and the manner of their driving."

The 19-year-old driver of the Corsa, who like his passenger was from the Preston area, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and bailed for further enquiries until July 14.

Police closed the road for three-and-a-half hours while an investigation was underway. Anyone with information can contact police on the non-emergency number 101 quoting log 1586 of May 19.