The Grane Road in Haslingden was temporarily closed during morning rush hour yesterday after a car left the road, crashing into a gas main.

The Renault Clio was travelling towards Blackburn at 8.45am when the brakes did not work and it left the road just past the Holden Arms pub, said police.

The car mounted the pavement and collided with several garden walls, and knocked over a domestic gas main and a road sign, before finally coming to a halt.

Police and a fire crew from Rawtenstall made the car and gas main safe, before Transco arrived.

The driver was unhurt.