A MOTORIST died and another is in hospital after a car smash at a notorious accident blackspot.

Police say Peter Pilkington, 26, of Ramsbottom, was driving a Toyota Corolla on the wrong side of the A671 Whalley Road, near Devil's Elbow, Read.

It collided with a red BMW, driven by a Ribble Valley man.

The silver, V-registered car then went down an embankment, after the accident happened at 1.49pm yesterday.

Emergency services were called to the scene.

Firefighters and police tried to revive the driver of the Toyota, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital.

The other driver sustained serious injuries and was also taken to Burnley General for treatment. The accident closed the main Whalley to Clitheroe road for two hours, and police accident investigators are still trying to work out what happened.

Inspector Graham Keyte, of Lancashire Constabulary's eastern division, said: "The Toyota was on the wrong side of the road when it collided with the BMW. It ended up down an embankment."

Two fire engines from Great Harwood attended the scene along with the brigade's incident support unit.

Station officer Chris Hollis, of Hyndburn fire station, said police and fire crews tried to resuscitate the driver of the Toyota at the scene while paramedics treated him.

"The vehicle he was in was hit on the passenger side but extremely violently and it was hit sideways on by a bigger car, pushing the passenger side into the driver side."

Police are appealing for witnesses, who should phone 01254 51212