AN 87-year-old man has been taken to hospital after a crash in Farnworth.

The pensioner, who was driving a red Smart car, hit a black Ford Focus at the junction of Albert Road and Glynne Street, just outside the Shakespeare pub in Farnworth.

Witnesses described the 87-year-old, who had to be cut out of his car by firefighters, as being in a "a bad way" and he was taken to hospital.

His car, which has been destroyed, is on a traffic island and police closed the surrounding roads.

They have now re-opened and police are managing the traffic.

Witness Angela Rothwell, who lives in the Shakespeare pub, said: "We heard a huge bang and came out - there were people everywhere.

"I saw the elderly man - he was in a real state.

"He looked shocked and the ambulance took him to hospital.

"This is a bad corner and there have been accidents here before."

Another witness, who did not wish to be named, said: "This has happened because the filter light on the traffic lights doesn't work, so the older man has obviously thought it was okay to go.

"It's not the first I have seen here - it needs fixing."

Someone else who witnessed the crash and did not want to be named added: "We heard a sound like a gunshot and came running out.

"We could see the man being cut out of his car. He looked in a bad way."

  • UPDATE - Midday June 19 - The man was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital complaining of abdominal and chest pains.  He is still in hospital. A spokesman said police were no longer investigating the incident as they do not believe there was any criminal activity.