A NEWSAGENT was trapped when his car and a bus collided leaving five people injured and a road blocked for more than two hours.

Kulbinder Singh Johal, known to his customers as John, was freed from wreckage after a 30 minute operation by firefighters after his Ford Escort collided head-on with a double-decker bus on a narrow country lane.

Paramedics treated Mr Singh, 54, who runs a newsagent's shop in Colne Road, Earby. He was later taken by helicopter to Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, with serious chest and leg injuries and was today described as "satisfactory."

His wife, Julie, said: "He's not too bad considering what's happened. He's broken his leg in three places and there are due to operate on it today. He's doing all right and bearing up. People have been very good. They've already been in offering help."

The couple have run JJ News opposite the Station Hotel pub for 11 years.

Four passengers on the Stagecoach X43 service bus suffered minor injuries.

The accident happened at 2.35pm yesterday in Earby Road, Salterforth, near Barnoldswick. Police said the Escort was travelling towards Earby on a right hand bend when it strayed onto the other side of the road and was in collision with the Volvo bus travelling in the opposite direction.

The force of the impact crushed the front of the car and left a large gash in the front offside corner of the bus.

Bus driver 56-year-old Ian Jeffrey, of Bird Street, Brierfield, was unhurt.

Passengers Anne Worsley, 56, of Salterforth Road, Earby, Edith Cooper, 81, of Gisburn Road, Barnoldswick, and Joan Petty, 78, also of Gisburn Road, were treated for head injuries, shock and bruising. A fourth passenger, 61-year-old Vera Hodgkinson, of Joseph Street, Barrowford, suffered shock and bruising but declined hospital treatment.

Reginald Russell, whose homes is just a few yards from the crash scene, said: "I just heard this loud bang and came out to see what had happened. The car was a right mess.

"It's the third time in a year there's been an accident here."

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