ONE of East Lancashire's busiest roads was shut this morning after a crash in icy conditions.

Two cars collided in Preston New Road in Samlesbury, close to the Swallow Hotel at the junction with the A59, at 5.50am.

Police were forced to close the road while they cleared the scene. It was due to reopen at about 8am.

A woman was cut out of one of the cars by firefighters, but she was not believed to be seriously injured.

The smash, just yards from the entrance to BAE Systems, caused traffic chaos for thousands of commuters heading towards Blackburn and Preston.

Meanwhile, East Lancashire endured another night of freezing temperatures.

However, while snow was forecast in other parts of the North West, there was no new snowfall in East Lancashire.