A COLLEGE student told how she and her friends had a lucky escape after a motorcyclist's machine skidded into the bus shelter where they were standing to avoid the rain.

Cheryl Glover, 16 of Minster Crescent and 14-year Victoria Hogan of Devon Street suffered cuts and bruises following the accident, which happened on Tuesday evening at Priory Drive, Darwen.

Biker Anthony Christopher Walker of Radfield Avenue, Darwen, suffered serious internal and back injuries in the accident when he came off the Yamaha 250cc bike, seconds before it ploughed into the bus shelter.

He is being treated at Blackburn Royal Infirmary where his condition was described as "reasonably comfortable."

Cheryl, who was standing at the back of the shelter, said: "There were about seven of us and we heard a screech and then the girls in front of us started screaming. "The first group ran out and when I got out I felt something catch my leg. At first I thought I'd been burnt. I think it might have been part of the bike that caught me but I just tried to get out as quickly as I could.

"I went back afterwards to see the man but there was glass from the headlights and petrol or water all over the floor so we stepped back. Even the ones that weren't hurt were really frightened."

Cheryl suffered a bruise to the leg and friend Victoria suffered minor cuts, but neither required hospital treatment.

Immediately after the accident some of the girls ran to houses across the road to call for an ambulance, but when they returned a police officer was already at the scene.

Mum Diane, who collected her daughter shortly after the accident, said the girls had had "a very lucky escape".

She said: "If she hadn't moved, or they had been standing in the road, then she would have been really hurt. They all would."