A CAB driver and passengers were hurt when a taxi skidded on an ungritted, icy road and crashed into a parked van.

Akbar Ali, 37, of Accrington, is believed to have lost control of his car over ice on the A682 at Loveclough, Rossendale, just after 2am.

The car, which also had two passengers inside, collided with a parked van.

Firefighters cut Mr Ali and one of the passengers out of the taxi, and all three were taken to hospital.

The trio were found to only have minor injuries.

But Mr Ali complained of breathing difficulties, and was last night in intensive care at Burnley General Hospital suffering from hypoxia, a lack of oxygen in the body caused by blocked blood vessels.

Sergeant Martin Bishop, of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale's road policing unit, said the road had not been gritted prior to the accident and that it was closed for five hours afterwards while council staff spread salt.

He said it was possible the county council's gritters had been caught out by a sudden fall in temperature.

Police were hoping to speak to Mr Ali today if his condition improves.

Sgt Bishop said: "We have been to see him and his family are by his bedside.

"He will be in intensive care, sedated and under observation, for the next 24 hours.

"It was not a significantly large impact, and the damage to the vehicle is consistent with a low-speed collision.

"The road at the time was extremely slippy.

"It's unusual, given the nature of the collision and the fact that the passengers' injuries are minor, that he should be in as bad a state as he is, but unfortunately that's how accidents are."

One passenger was discharged from hospital after check-ups.

The other was kept in overnight after being knocked-out by the crash.

No-one from the county council was available for comment.