A MOTORIST has died after his car hit a tree earlier today.

Fire crews from Blackburn and Longridge were called to the scene in Barker Brow, near Longsight Road, Copster Green to free the trapped motorist.

Crews removed the roof from the badly damaged Peugeot at around 4am.

However the man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police and the force helicopter were called to the scene to search the surrounding area.

Police were trying to establish whether any passengers may have escaped the wreckage and stumbled into nearby fields. Nobody else was found.

Crew manager Damian Hartley of Blackburn Fire and Rescue said: "We were called to the scene by police who were already there.

"We used cutting equipment to release one male from the car this morning.

"We were at the scene for around an hour.

"Unfortunately the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Our sympathy goes to his family at this sad time."

Police have launched an investigation to establish the cause of the crash.