AN EAST Lancashire policeman could face criminal charges after a police car went through a red light -- seriously injuring two pensioners in a smash.

The Crown Prosecution Service is deciding whether to charge the Eastern Division officer with a motoring offence after Harold Clarkson, 82, and wife Margaret, 81 were injured.

The couple spent two weeks in Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the accident and have now been released.

The crash took place on the junction of the A6119 Ramsgreave Drive with Pleckgate Road in Blackburn at 8.30pm on February 23.

Inspector Julian Platt, of Eastern Division, said accident investigators attended the scene and a report has now been passed to the CPS.

Mr Clarkson suffered a fractured hand and his wife a broken breast bone and a gash to her leg.

The couple , who live in Walton-le-Dale, were on their way back home after visiting their son in Halifax.

Mr Clarkson, a Conservative councillor for South Ribble Borough Council, said: "It has been very traumatic and a very slow recovery for both of us.

"I am more or less nearly on the road again but my wife will be like this for some time. It was a very deep gash.

"I wouldn't like to go through that experience again. It was a shock.

"I suffered respiratory problems for a start but my wife had more injuries than me."

Mr Clarkson said that because of pending legal proceedings he could not go into more details about the actual crash.

Insp Platt said: "I can confirm that a police vehicle driven by an officer from eastern division in company with another officer from the division was involved in a collision at the junction of Ramsgreave Drive and Pleckgate Road.

"Accident investigators attended the scene. The investigators and the senior police officer in charge of the officer have submitted a report into the circumstances of the case.

"The CPS are now looking at the evidence and making a decision as to whether any motoring offence has been committed and whether an officer should be charged and go to court like anybody else."

He added: "Like every other vehicle manoeuvre, it is the responsibility of the driver to make sure that the particular movement is safe."

He confirmed the accident happened as the police car drove through a red light. Police officers are required to adhere to clearly defined national guidelines agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers.