THREE people were injured in an accident which a witness described as like "a scene from a horror movie".

A BMW car and Nissan van were in collision in Penny Street, Blackburn at 1pm yesterday and two pedestrians were also knocked down in the incident, which caused the road to be closed for two hours.

The van, owned by Church-based Ighten Vending Services was thrown into the air by the initial impact and landed on an empty white Ford Focus which had been parked nearby.

A police investigation has been launched.

Van driver, Samantha Gowans, 29, of High Close in Rishton, is believed to have been turning into a car park in front of Thwaites brewery when the collision occurred. She escaped unhurt.

She said: "It was very scary as the van was literally lifted into the air and it all happened so quickly."

The driver of the BMW, Robert Samari, 31, of Winston Road, Blackburn escaped unhurt but his passenger Daniel Brahsford, 17, of Windsor Road, Knuzden, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary suffering bruises to his head.

The two pedestrians, Carole Wright, 50, of Bolton Road, Ewood, Blackburn and Laura Thorn, 57, of Hindle Street, Darwen, suffered shock and bruising.

Witness Olivia Parker, 29, manageress of Suntan, Penny Street, said: "I heard the impact and saw the van literally lift into the air against the flow of traffic.

"The car had been travelling towards the town centre. It came down on top of the other car and bowled over two pedestrians who were walking up Penny Street.

"It was more like something you would see out of a horror movie. I have never seen anything like it before. The ambulances turned up and paramedics started treating the pedestrians who were injured. It was awful."

A 60-year-old witness from Darwen who declined to be named said: "The pedestrians were knocked down like skittles. It was horrible and could have been anyone."

Fire crews from Blackburn and Accrington, police and paramedics were called to the scene.

Station Commander Jim Owen said: "The van landed in a precarious position so we had to stabilise it while the medical attention was given to two casualties who had been knocked into the car park."