A 42-year-old motorcyclist died instantly in a crash involving a bus and car.

John Liversedge of Charter Street, Accrington, was on his Honda CBR 1100 machine following his brother on the A682 Gisburn Road, Blacko, when he was in collision with a 16-seater bus.

The Burnley and Pendle bus then crossed the road, knocking a Peugeot 206 into a wall before careering out of control for 100 yards and also hitting a wall.

Mr Liversedge was killed outright.

Car driver Michael Gary Howarth, 49, of Leaverholme Close, Cliviger, had to be cut from his vehicle before being taken by air ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital suffering from pelvic and internal injuries.

His injuries were described as not life threatening and he was admitted to one of the wards.

His wife, Susan, 48, suffered arm and abdomen injuries and was taken to Burnley General Hospital.

Four passengers on the bus, all from Blackpool, were also taken to hospital in Burnley .

Peter Marsh, 61, of Mather Street, suffered a cut head. Norma Marsh, 53, of the same address suffered shock and Lisa Marsh, 33, also of the same address had an injured wrist.

Mary Coleman, 64, of Caledonian Avenue, Blackpool suffered a wrist injury and shock.

The accident happened at 10am on Saturday outside the Moorcock Inn and the road was closed for three and a half hours. Traffic unit Sgt Eric Marshall said: "Mr Liversedge was in company with his brother on another bike travelling towards Gisburn from Nelson.

"Near the Moorcock Inn both overtook the Peugeot with Mr Liversedge following his brother.

"Immediately after the overtake Mr Liversedge collided head-on with the public service vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

"The bus then crossed into the Gisburn bound lane and collided head-on with the on-coming Peugeot, pushing it back through a dry stone wall."

Sgt Marshall added: "The bus has then gone on out of control for about 100 yards and then also gone through a dry stone wall. Fortunately the passengers were able to get out themselves."

Bus driver Barry George Towneley, 46, of Highfield Road, Clitheroe, escaped injury.

Sgt Marshall added: The road was closed for three and a half hours as the accident investigation team did their work causing a lot of difficulties and traffic disruption."

Nelson fire crews went to the scene to help free the trapped driver. Leading Firefighter Roy Waddington said: "The car had been knocked through a small wall mounted by a railing opposite the public house.

"The paramedics tried to stabilise him while we began to free him.

"We were in the process of taking the roof off the car when the paramedics were able to get him out of the side of the vehicle."