THE driver of a mini-bus which crashed down a motorway embankment has been hailed a hero by his passengers who say his actions saved their lives'.

John Merry, who was driving the 33 seater mini-bus back to Burnley from a works outing at the races, fought to control the mini-bus as it crashed down an embankment near junction 29 of the M6 at Bamber Bridge.

Four Rolls Royce workers from the Bankfield site were injured when a transit van shunted into the rear of the rented mini-bus pushing it down the embankment as they returned home on Friday night, shortly after 10pm.

Most of the passengers escaped with minor injuries including a process worker who had to have plastic surgery after he severed his right index finger in the accident.

Mr Merry, who has been driving buses for Barnoldswick based B&J Travel for 13 years, said he did what any other driver would have done.

The 46-year-old, of Percy Street, Nelson, said: "There was no time to do anything.

"I had to use 100 per cent of my concentration to keep the bus under control and I had some degree of control but the back of the bus flipped on its side.

"After a couple of minutes I realised I wasn't hurt and got out through the windscreen and gave a hand to those who were still in there."

Passenger Bridgit Kearns, a process worker from Great Harwood, hurt her shoulder, back and was left with a black eye in the incident.

But she said that she believed that Mr Merry's actions had saved her life and that of her colleagues.

She said: "It could have been a lot worse if the bus driver had not got control of the mini-bus.

"I want to thank the bus driver for saving my life.

"I was extremely scared when I heard the bang I thought a tyre had blown out and we had to swerve towards the central reservation.

"It was blind panic and every one just held on to something."

Police, fire and ambulance services were called to the scene after the impact of the collision caused the bus driver to lose control, and the coach left the carriageway before landing on its side and sliding backwards, down the banking, just missing a concrete gantry.

Trip organiser Jonathan Phillips, of Chestnut Drive, Barnoldswick, an inspector at Rolls Royce, said the trip was an annual visit to Haydock race course.

The 31-year-old father-of-two said: "We realised that there were still a couple of people trapped in the mini bus and everyone helped get them out.

"The fact that no one was more seriously injured is a testimony to the skills of the driver and the quality of the coaches.

"The lads are not bothered they didn't win anything at the races they said they have won by not being hurt in the accident."

Linda Costelloe, who runs B&J Travel with son Liam, said: "Two of the passengers on the bus have come round to say thanks to the driver and they were full of praise for his driving."

Police have charged the 37-year van-driver, who is from Preston, with a drink driving offence.