A DRIVER has been cleared of violence after an alleged road rage melee in Accrington.

Dawood Ashraf, 39, was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, an alternative charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm and one count of dangerous driving, after a four day trial at Burnley Crown Court.

The defendant, of Persia Street, Accrington, was discharged from the dock by Judge Simon Newell.

He had denied all the allegations against him. The jury had heard claims another motorist, Mohammed Shakeel, was driven at and was trapped between two cars.

He was said to have pulled himself up onto the roof of his vehicle and taken refuge there as Mr Ashraf, it was alleged, tried to launch a frenzied attack with an iron bar.

Mr Shakeel, who had been driving family members home from a mosque, had earlier pulled in front of Mr Ashraf on Blackburn Road, Accrington, after he claimed the defendant had been travelling at between 10 to 15mph and tried to block him overtaking.

The jury had been told words had been exchanged. Mr Shakeel claimed Mr Ashraf had followed him before pulling up behind him and driving at him. Both men had been arrested after the incident, in which Mr Shakeel suffered a torn calf and later had to have plastic surgery.

When Mr Ashraf was interviewed by the police, he told them he had been in fear, had tried to drive away and had accidentally struck Mr Shakeel's car.