TWO men were left fighting for their lives and two others were seriously injured after a car smash in Bacup today.

Police, fire crew and ambulance were called to the scene of the crash off Burnley Road shortly before 1am.

About a dozen neighbours who heard the sound of the crash, described as being "like an explosion", rushed to help the injured men.

The car, a silver BMW, appeared to have lost control and hit a garden wall.

Deb Bennet, who has lived in Woodland Terrace for about two years, was among those who went to help the injured men.

She said: "I was in bed, though not asleep, and I heard the crash. It was like an explosion and I got up to see if there was anything I could do. A lot of people rushed out to help. We were all civilians with no medical training but we just wanted to do something.

"A van driver from Nottingham was the first to stop and he gave first aid to the driver. He may even have saved his life.

"The damage was terrible and it seemed like the people in the car were lucky to be alive."

Firefighters used cutting equipment to free the four men in the car before two were taken to Burnley General Hospital suffering from "very serious" injuries.

A third was also taken to Burnley hospital and the other was taken to Rochdale Infirmary suffering from neck and chest injuries.