TEENAGE twin brothers were in hospital today with serious head injuries after colliding with a van.

Fourteen-year-olds David and Matthew Howard of Shelley Gardens, Great Harwood, were crossing High Street in Rishton when they were struck by the Suzuki Carry van.

Both received serious head injuries and were unconscious when emergency services arrived on the scene.

They were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where a spokesman said their injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

The teenagers are pupils at Norden High School, Rishton, where pupils were told about the incident this morning.

The accident happened near the zebra crossing outside the Roebuck pub. It is understood the boys may have been crossing the road after leaving a phone box when they were involved in the accident with the van, driven by 54-year-old Ernest Hayward, of Knowles Street, Rishton.

Mr Hayward was not injured and an investigation was underway today although there is nothing to suggest the driver was at fault.

Les Smalley, of nearby Smalley's Newsagents, said: "I saw the ambulances and the police cars racing past. I didn't see the actual accident but I heard that the two boys seemed to come flying out across the road from the phone box.

"This is a very dangerous stretch of road and there have been several accidents here over the years."

Police closed High Street for two hours while they carried out an accident investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident which happened about 5.40pm yesterday should contact police on 01254 382141.