AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a police van answering a 999 call collided with a taxi.

The incident happened by a set of traffic lights at the junction of Eastgate and Whalley Road, Accrington, at about 12.50am today.

The Ford Transit police van was responding to reports of a fight between two brothers in Bluebell Way, Huncoat, when the accident happened.

The taxi, a Volkswagen people carrier, crashed into railings following the collision.

Both Eastgate and Whalley Road were closed while firefighters cut the roof and back doors off the taxi so the driver could be removed from the vehicle on a spinal board.

The taxi driver, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with back injuries.

The two police officers who were in the van suffered minor injuries.

Inspector Peter Zsigmod said the police van would have had its blue lights switched on and officers would have been allowed to use sirens.

He said an investigation would be launched into the crash to determine whether the incident needed to be referred to the force's professional standards body or the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Insp Zsigmod said: "We had received quite a number of calls from the public about a domestic incident which the police van was responding to.

"It was a code one incident which means we have to attend within 15 minutes and officers would be automatically allowed to have its warning equipment on."

Phil Jones, crew manager at Hyndburn fire station added: "There was quite a bit of concern from the paramedics so we cut off the roof and the back doors of the vehicle to allow paramedics access to the driver."

Police said no-one was arrested following the reports of fighting in Bluebell Way after those involved said they did not want to take criminal action.