A CAR burst into flames after a rush-hour crash on the A59.

Emergency services were called to the accident, which happened near the Clitheroe Roundabout, at around 5pm on Wednesday evening.

All drivers and passengers had managed to escape from the cars before one of them burst into flames.

One woman was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and another patient was treated at the scene. None of them are thought to have serious injuries.

By-standers say the accident took place after one of the cars pulled out of a junction near the Pendleton turn-off and collided with an oncoming car.

James Fitzpatrick, who had been on the road at the time, said: "Everybody seemed to be ok, but both of the cars looked really mangled.

"Traffic was really slow along the road and it backed-up for a couple of miles as the accident was dealt with."

A police spokesman confirmed that the were called to the dual-carriageway at around 5pm to reports of a collision.

A spokesman said: "Two cars were involved in the crash, a Ford fiesta and a Seat Ibiza. Shortly after the accident took place, one of the vehicles caught on fire.

“When we arrived at the scene a woman was on the floor and was issued medical treatment.”

The A59, which has previously been branded one of the most dangerous dual-carriageways in the country, is currently down to a 50mph speed limit in places as a new roundabout is being constructed to help with the flow of traffic.

The road is a notorious spot for accidents and before Christmas a spate of incidents resulted in the death of 80-year-old Annie Smale from Burnley, who died in the Royal Preston Hospital after the Mistubishi Colt she was driving collided with a Volvo travelling in the opposite direction.

In a separate crash over the same week, two elderly people were airlifted to hospital following a head-on collision on the road.

Back in December it was announced that work on the roundabout, which will replace the staggered junction between Pendle Road and Clitheroe Road, was delayed.

Cllr Keith Iddon, Lancashire County Council’s highways boss, said: “This junction has a poor safety record and this scheme will make it much safer, as well as more suitable for higher volumes of traffic as the area develops.

“We’re sorry about the delay to the completion date, and the added inconvenience as a result.”