EMERGENCY services closed a major road over fears gas bottles inside a caravan involved in a road smash would explode.

Police and fire crews were called to Finnington Lane, Riley Green, close to junction 3 of the M65 at 7am yesterday after reports of a three-vehicle accident.

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One of the cars overturned on to its side and another appeared to have collided with a caravan.

Debris from the vehicles was scattered over a wide area of the road, police said.

The four people involved in the smash were able to free themselves from their vehicles and were later treated for minor injuries.

The road was closed in its entirety for more than four hours as fire crews, paramedics, road police and later county council highways staff dealt with the crash and the clean up operation.

One of the vehicles involved was a caravan containing compressed Calor gas canisters and the fire service made the decision to seal off the entire length of Finnington Lane from the motorway roundabout to the traffic lights at Riley Green for safety reasons. Cones and signs saying ‘Police Incident’ blocked both sides and rush hour traffic at the busy junction was diverted to the M65 or towards Hoghton.

A fire service spokesman said: “A collision involving three vehicles and a caravan resulted in four casualties, attended to by paramedics.

“Two fire engines and crews, from Blackburn and Bamber Bridge, responded to the call and are ensured there are no remaining hazards in respect of fire, fuel or oil spillages, or debris.

“Crews assisted in retrieving personal affects from the caravan and made sure the gas canisters were secure.”

The road reopened at around 11.30am after the final stage of the clean up when a road-sweeping vehicle cleared up remaining debris. The road links the M65 junction to Riley Green Switch Road.