A MAN and a woman were trapped in their car when it crashed as it was pursued by police on the Grane Road today.

Police said the red Mitsubishi GTO was being followed by officers from Greater Manchester after it had collided with two patrol cars in Manchester city centre.

A spokesman said it was thought the driver lost control close to the Pack Horse restaurant as it headed towards Blackburn - ending up in a field at 2.15am.

Officers closed the road while firefighters from Haslingden, Rawtenstall and Accrington used cutting equipment to free the pair. They were taken by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

The male driver suffered head injuries in the accident, while his female passenger was arrested after being treated for minor injuries. The road re-opened at 7.30am.