A WOMAN died when the car in which she was a passenger was involved in a smash with a black cab in the early hours.

Nichola Snowden, 32, of Williams Road, Burnley, died in hospital two hours after the accident, in Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle, at 1.13am yesterday.

The 21-year-old driver of the Rover car she was travelling in has been arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Fire crews worked with paramedics to free Nichola, who was trapped by her legs against the dashboard of the Rover 418.

She was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with multiple injuries but died two hours later.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the Rover, which was travelling towards Accrington, between the railway bridge on the border of Church and Oswaldtwistle and Church traffic lights.

Inspector Steve Baines of Lancashire police said: "The driver of the Rover appears to have lost control of the vehicle and it went across the carriageway and into the taxi cab, which was travelling towards Blackburn."

The driver of the Rover and taxi driver, Mohammed Shafiq, 47, of Spring View in Accrington, were treated for minor injuries.

Leading firefighter Shaun Sidebottom of Accrington Fire Station said: "It appears to have been quite a violent collision. The front end of the cab hit passenger side of the Rover."

He said firefighters using cutting equipment, with help from paramedics, took ten minutes to free Nichola's legs which were trapped in the passenger side well.

A spokesman for the ambulance service at Altham said she suffered head, chest and leg injuries and was taken to accident and emergency in Blackburn but died about 3.30am.

Police officers were out yesterday informing members of Nichola's family in Nelson.

Anyone with any information about the incident should call Accrington Police on 01254 353467.

The Rover's registration was M618 JOG.