A 14-YEAR-OLD girl escaped serious injury when a load of heavy metal discs flew off a passing vehicle towards her.

Katie Fryer, of Parker Street, Colne, was walking to the shop to get some newspapers at around 6.45pm yesterday, close to the junction of Harrison Drive and North Valley Road, when one of the heavy metal discs struck her.

She was taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment for bruising to her lower left leg but was not detained.

Sgt Russell Gregory said the heavy goods vehicle, driven by Wayne Ruben Sumner, 38, of Ottershaw Gardens, Blackburn, had a sudden tyre blow out on the roundabout which caused the heavy load of sheet metal discs to move. He added: "Had she been a few inches nearer she could have been killed."

Staff at the nearby Macadams garage towed the lorry away and a heavy goods specialist confirmed that there had been a tyre blow-out.

Sgt Gregory said a man could have just about lifted three of the discs and Katie could not have lifted one.