A FATHER of four was fighting for his life today after suffering serious head injuries when his car left a motorway and plunged down an embankment.

Grocer Afiz Ali, 33, of Manchester Road, Haslingden, is in the Royal Preston Hospital where his condition is described as critical.

A passenger in the car, Shane Barker, 17, of Claremont Street, Brierfield, escaped with cuts and bruises. He was taken to Burnley General Hospital and allowed home after treatment.

A police spokesman described him as a "lucky young man" to have escaped more serious injury.

Mr Ali is owner of M and M grocer's shop in Colne Road, Brierfield. He is married with four children.

Police said the vehicle was travelling in the middle lane of the motorway heading towards Nelson when it swerved to the left and left the carriageway, rolled down the embankment and went through a fence into the field.

The accident happened between the Stoneyholme and Brierfield junctions of the M65 near to Barden Lane, Burnley, at 6.50pm yesterday. The cause is still unknown.

Firefighters had to cut the roof from the Nissan Sunny to allow the unconscious driver to receive treatment before being lifted out into a waiting ambulance.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital. Fire and Rescue Service Station Officer Steve Cope said: "The car had gone off the road, down a bank, through a fence and 50 yards into the field. It appeared it may have somersaulted because there were no marks leading to where it ended up.

"We took the roof off the car so they could get a board down behind him. The paramedics and on-call doctor attended to him before he was lifted out of the vehicle."