EMERGENCY services were stretched just before the evening rush hour yesterday following two serious crashes.

It led to Traffic chaos as roads were closed after the incidents, which left one woman with serious spinal injuries after her car was crushed by a lorry and three others also needing hospital treatment.

Police are trying to trace a green saloon which they believe caused the first smash while overtaking on the notorious Grane Road, Haslingden, at around 3pm.

In the second, around 3.30pm in Blackamoor Road, Guide, firefighters spent more than half an hour cutting a woman from her car after a lorry, travelling down Blackamoor Road, hit the Ford Ka as it pulled out of a road on a nearby industrial estate. The car was pushed 30 metres down the road.

The incident support unit from Accrington and major incident support from Preston attended.

Firefighters stabilised the car before removing its roof, windscreen and seats and manoeuvring the woman on to a stretcher. She was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary thought to be suffering serious spinal injuries.

Meanwhile three people were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary following the incident on Grane Road close to St Crispin Way.

The green car police want to trace was travelling towards Blackburn when it caused a 7.5tonne lorry travelling the opposite way to swerve to avoid it.

The lorry overturned and two cars smashed into the back of it. The occupant of one car and two from the other were taken to hospital. Police said their injuries are not thought to be serious or life threatening.

The green car failed to stop and Sergeant Martin Bishop of Colne Traffic Police has appealed for the driver to come forward.

Call Colne Traffic Police on 01282 472431 with any information.