A TEENAGER suffered a fractured skull in a freak accident as he unloaded carpet at work.

Adam Walne, 17, of Swinton Street, Burnley, had just helped to unload a 38-ton lorry at Rolfe Carpets, West Mill, Churchill Way, Brierfield, and was waving the driver off when the vehicle rocked a few inches, trapping his head against a wall.

Adam, who has worked at the company for about 12 months, was today in intensive care at Burnley General Hospital. He was "stable and comfortable."

Lorry driver Luc Emile Bruyndonckx , 46, from Antwerp, Belgium, suffered shock but did not need hospital treatment. He left to return home after police accident investigators had checked his vehicle.

Traffic Sergeant Eric Marshall said the Volvo lorry had been backed up to the loading bay at the carpet shop at the Pendle Village centre, Brierfield.

As the driver was about to set off Adam leaned out to look up the side of the vehicle to wave the driver off.

"As he waved him off and he started off in low gear the vehicle has rocked three or four inches and trapped his head against the wall," said Sgt Marshall.

The owner of Rolfe Carpets, which deals in wholesale of carpets, Barry Lockwood, said the company would be carrying out their own investigation into the accident.

He said Adam's injuries were caused after the truck rolled back slightly before setting off, catching the teenager on the head.

Police accident investigation officers attended the scene and the Health and Safety Executive was also involved.

Sgt Marshall said: "Inquiries are continuing but at this stage this looks to be a genuine accident."