A BURY motorist had an amazing escape when he suffered only cuts and bruises after his car was dragged for a mile under the wheels of a 40-ton lorry.

Robert Isherwood's car, a Peugeot 206, became wedged between the front and rear wheels of the fully laden articulated HGV. Its driver was unaware of the accident and had to be flagged down by a passing motorist.

Mr Isherwood, of Orchid Drive, was cut free from his wrecked car and was taken to Fairfield General Hospital with suspected chest injuries. However, he was discharged after receiving treatment to minor injuries.

Sergeant Russell Gregory, from Lancashire Police traffic unit, said the bizarre accident happened shortly before 5am on Saturday on the A56 between Haslingden and Edenfield in pouring rain.

He said: "Mr Isherwood overtook a car in heavy rain and there was a lot of spray on the road. When he moved back into the left hand lane he was unaware of the lorry and was too close in front of it.

"He must have braked and his car went under the wheels of the lorry following behind and became trapped beneath the trailer unit. Because it was carrying a full and heavy load, the HGV driver, John Burton, was unaware of the accident and carried on."

After travelling about a mile, the car originally overtaken by Mr Isherwood raced ahead and managed to flag Mr Burton down.

Firefighters from Bury were called to the accident scene and spent 90 minutes cutting Mr Isherwood from his car.