AN ELDERLY motorist died after her vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with another car.

The 79-year-old woman, from Clitheroe, died at the scene of the accident in Whalley, following the crash at 5.30pm yesterday.

The woman had been travelling towards Clitheroe on the A671 Accrington Road in her blue Rover 25 saloon when witnesses said the driver of a black Mercedes CDI, travelling in the opposite direction, appeared to swerve across the road and into the oncoming car.

The Rover was shunted 40ft down the road.

A Volvo S40, that had been behind the Rover, also collided with the Mercedes and came to rest in the Clitheroe-bound carriage way.

The driver and passengers of the Mercedes and the driver of the Volvo were all taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.

The accident happened close to the Springwood picnic site.

A section of the road was closed until 9pm while police investigated the scene.

Anyone who may have seen the accident is asked to contact Blackburn's road policing unit on 01254 51212.