RESIDENTS have been evacuated from their houses after a 70-year-old motorist smashed into a gas mains before his car flipped onto its roof in Chorley Old Road.

The crash happened at about 11.30am leaving the driver trapped inside the car near the junction with Montserrat Road.

Firefighters managed to pull the man from the vehicle, and he was taken to hospital. He was said to be "conscious and responsive".

The silver Toyota damaged a gas main in the incident and residents living nearby have been evacuated from their homes.

Nearby resident Adrian Wilmot, aged 52, said: "I was working in my garage when I heard a loud bang.

"I ran out to see the car whizz past before hitting a lamp post and flipping onto its roof.

"I ran to the car and could see the man inside. He was unconscious at the time and I was concerned because the car was smoking."

Mr Wilmot said a female passerby stayed with the driver as he came back to consciousness, before he was checked by paramedics and taken to hospital.

He said firefighters then used gas detectors to determine that gas had leaked into the area and residents are now unable to go back into their houses while the issue is dealt with.


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The road has now re-opened and residents have been allowed back into their homes.