A TEENAGER was airlifted to hospital with serious head injuries after a crash.

Police were called to the collision involving a grey Citroen C1 and a silver Audi A5 at the junction of Whinney Lane and Yew Tree Drive in Blackburn at around 9am.

A 17-year-old boy travelling as a passenger in the Citroen was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital with 'facial fractures' following the crash.

Officers said an 18-year-old man driving the Citroen was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He earlier received treatment at Royal Blackburn Hospital for whiplash.

A 37-year-old woman driving the Audi also received treatment at the hospital for minor injuries.

Yew Tree Drive was closed for around five hours from the junction with Lammack Road to several hundred metres beyond the junction with Whinney Lane while officers dealt with the incident.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to deal with a serious collision involving two cars.

"The road was blocked in both directions for several hours leading to Blackburn Rugby Club.

"A young man suffered head injuries and facial fractures and had to be taken to hospital via air ambulance.

"The 18-year-old driver of the Citroen has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and is currently in custody."

A give way sign was destroyed by the silver Audi in the crash.

Around six police cars were at the scene to investigate what had happened and to make sure nobody could access the road.

Five ambulance vehicles were called to the scene alongside the air ambulance to treat the people involved in the crash.

Ambulance staff they took three people to hospital after the crash.

A North West Ambulance spokesman said: "A man in his late teens suffered numerous injuries to his stomach, head and face and has been airlifted to hospital.

"He suffered serious major trauma injuries."

Residents who lived near the road said they were alerted to what happened after hearing a loud noise coming from outside.

A Yew Tree Drive resident said: "We just heard this massive crash and bang from our living rooms.

"We looked outside and just saw a car spinning off.

"It looked terrible, I just hope everyone is okay."

A Whinney Road resident said: "I heard a huge smash just before I set off for work, it was terrifying.

"It was horrible to see.

"There was so many ambulance and police cars, the air ambulance as well, it must have been bad, I just hope nobody is seriously injured."