A POLICE officer was injured after the van in which he was travelling to a 999 call collided with a car in Blackburn.

Two officers were travelling in the marked van, which had its sirens and lights on, to reports of a domestic disturbance when the incident occurred at just before 6pm yesterday.

Lancashire Police have begun an inquiry into the incident but police today said they "could not assume" the police van went through a red light.

The male officer, whose name has not been released, was a passenger in the van when it was involved in an accident with a Fiat car at traffic lights in Whitebirk Road, Intack, at the junction with Accrington Road.

The officer sustained a minor shoulder injury and was taken to Blackburn Infirmary for a check-up.

The driver of the police van and the male driver of the car were uninjured.

Both vehicles were damaged and had to be removed from the scene.

Martin Baybutt, 56, owner of Martin's Hairdresser's in Accrington Road, said: "I heard a bang and looked through the window and saw that a police van, which had its sirens on and lights flashing had been in collision with a car. The van was left in the middle of the road."

Inspector Stuart Bruce, from Blackburn Police said: "The van was on its way from the police station to an emergency after a call in relation to a supposed domestic disturbance.

"Unfortunately, there was an accident at the traffic lights.

"Both vehicles had to be removed from the scene. They were not extensively damaged but were undriveable.

"Unfortunately at that time of day it was very busy and caused congestion for other people.

"An officer sustained a minor shoulder injury and was taken to hospital to be checked out. No-one else was injured. Speed was not an issue in this incident, which was a low-speed shunt. It will be investigated, as any other road accident."