A DOG owner watched in horror as his pet died after being struck by a car which lost control and hit a wall.

Derek Hargreaves, 63, was out with Arnold, a 10-year-old Jack Russell, when the pair were hit by a silver Peugeot 206 in Saccary Lane, Mellor.

The car lost control near the Spread Eagle pub and mounted a grass verge before hitting the stone wall on the opposite side of the lane.

Police said Mr Hargreaves, of St Mary’s Gardens, Mellor, were walking along the lane at around 3pm. The dog was killed at the scene. Mr Hargreaves escaped serious injury but was left ‘devastated’ by the loss of his pet.

The car, driven by a 20-year-old from Shear Brow, Blackburn, has been taken away by police and an investigation is under way.

Two passengers were also in the car at the time of the crash.

A police spokesman said: “We had reports of a road traffic collision involving a car which collided with a dog and a pedestrian.

“The vehicle was badly damaged and the dog died at the scene.”

The driver, who police said tested negative in a breath test, is believed to have been treated for minor injuries.

No one has been arrested.

Yesterday Mr Hargreaves said he was too upset to talk about the incident.

Residents in the area said there have been a number of crashes along the stretch of road.

Mike Hardy, 71, of Saccary Lane, said: “A police car came screaming around the bend yesterday afternoon. It is a busy rat run for commuters.”

John Whittaker, 82, also of Saccary Lane, said: “It’s especially dangerous when the grass is so tall and you can’t see around the bends.

“There have been a few accidents on that bend. People need to drive carefully.”

Joan Ainsworth, 65, of Primrose Hill, said: “It is a bad bend.”