SIX people were taken to hospital after a two-car smash in Cliviger.

The incident at about 1pm yesterday on the A646 Burnley Road involved a Land Rover Freelander and a Toyota Celica and the road was closed for three hours.

Police said it is believed the Toyota, driven by Shane Glenger, 20, of Todmorden, was travelling towards Cliviger when the driver lost control on a bend and went into the path of the Burnley-bound Land Rover.

The front seat passenger, Jake Goldie, 21, of Todmorden, suffered a broken pelvis and cuts to his head. He was said to be "stable" today. Two other passengers were taken to hospital with cuts and chest injuries and both were later released.

The Land Rover driver, 47 and believed to be from Barnoldswick and passenger, who fire crews at the scene said is pregnant, were not thought to be seriously injured.

PS Martin Bishop of Colne Road Policing Unit said four males from the Todmorden area were in the Toyota.

He said: "The front seat passenger had to be assisted out of the vehicle by the fire brigade with quite serious back and lower limbs injuries.

"Early indications are the Celica had straddled the white line system and was travelling on the wrong side of the road, lost control and travelled side ways into the Freelander."

Dave Rigby, assistant operations Manager, for Lancashire Ambulance Service said five ambulances attended the scene and the air ambulance was scrambled but not required.

"All casualties were taken to Burnley General Hospital, four of them on longboards," he said.

"All were very lucky considering the amount of damage to one of the vehicles."

Sub Officer Neil Mark, of Burnley Fire Brigade said crews assisted paramedics in freeing the front seat passenger in the Celica.

He said: "We received a call at 1.26pm from the Ambulance Service and sent two fire engines from Burnley and the Incident Support Unit from Accrington.

" The paramedics were concerned about his condition so we assisted them in freeing him from the car."