A DRIVER, who lost control of his convertible sports car and crashed into a tree, escaped with minor head injuries.

The crash happened at about 4pm on Wednesday on the A671 close to Wiswell Lane, Whalley.

The driver, a man in his 70s, became trapped in his TVR Griffith after the car hit a tree and then rolled down into a ditch.

He was rescued by fire crews and paramedics called out to the incident.

A fire service spokesman said the man was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital as a precaution with slight head injuries following the accident.

A police spokesman said the man’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A fire service spokesman said: “A car had hit a tree, trapping the driver, the ambulance service reported.

“Three fire engines and crews, from Great Harwood, Hyndburn and Padiham responded.

“We did not have to use cutting equipment as the car was a convertible.

“Crews assisted paramedics in getting the man out of the car and he was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“The car had crashed into a tree before rolling over into a ditch.

“Firefighters rescued the casualty and he was taken to hospital by ambulance.”

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We sent out two ambulances to the crash.

“A man in his 70s was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.”

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 3.40pm by the ambulance service that a car had gone into a tree.

“A man suffered minor injuries which are not though to be life-threatening.

“The road was not closed following the crash.”

TVR is a specialist British sports car brand with models previously built at the firm’s now-demolished Blackpool manufacturing plant.

Production of the high-end cars stopped in 2006 but the company is looking to bring out a new model later this year.