A woman has died following a crash on the Grane Road.

The woman, who has not yet been named by police, died after her car crashed into a ditch close to the Grey Mare Inn in Belthorn on Thursday.

The woman's family have been informed and are now being supported by specialist officers.

A spokesperson for the police said: "We can confirm the crash was fatal."

At around 10.40am on Thursday, emergency services were called to a crash close to the Grey Mare Inn near Jackson Heights Road, Belthorn.

The incident involved two cars with one vehicle landing on its side in a ditch.

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: "We received the call at 10.37am and attended the scene with two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, advanced paramedic and an operational commander.

"One patient was taken to hospital.

"The collision involved two vehicles, one of which was off the road.

"We left the incident at 12.04pm."

A spokesperson for the police said: "The exit slip road at junction five of the M65 has been closed to stop traffic from going down the Grane Road while emergency services deal with the incident."

Traffic heading along the Grane Road towards Blackburn from Haslingden was also being directed down Jackson Heights Road.

Tommy Temperley, who was travelling to Haslingden along the Grane Road said: "I was on my way to Haslingden at about 11am and there a few cars in front of me.

"I couldn't quite see what was going on but one car had come off the road.

"It looks like a car has come round that corner near the Grey Mare, which is a blackspot for accidents, and hit an oncoming car and that's flipped.

"An Audi or Range Rover type car has also been hit but luckily wasn't taken off the road.

"I wasn't kept there very long as two fire engines arrived and told us to move on as they needed space to work from."

A fire service spokesperson said: "We attended an RTC involving two vehicles.

"One car was on its side off the road.

"The fire service were called to rescue a person from the vehicle and this person was then taken to hospital.

"The fire service are now liaising with the police."

The Lancashire Telegraph will bring you more updates soon.