FIVE men were involved in a car crash in Blackburn last night.

The men, aged between 20 and 30, were inside a car that hit a lamppost on the junction of St James' Road and Whalley New Road at around 1.10am.

Blackburn Fire Station Crew manager John Riley described three of the men as 'walking wounded'.

However firefighters had to cut the driver and a rear passenger out of the car.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Mr Riley said: "The driver suffered serious chest injuries and the rear passenger suffered serious leg injuries which involved them being cut out of the car.

"We had to use hydraulic equipment to free the men so they could get out without causing any more injuries.

"All five of them were taken to hospital, including the three passengers who were walking wounded.

"We were there for around an hour and the police are investigating the circumstances of how the incident happened."

Evidence of the crash could still be seen this morning.

The lamppost can been seen leaning into the road and a wall has been reduced to a pile of bricks.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and are appealing for witnesses.

Signs appealing for witnesses have been put up on the approach to the area.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.