TWO "shunt" accidents at the same time on the same stretch of road caused traffic chaos.

The collisions happened on the A56 Edenfield bypass, Edenfield, during heavy rain shortly before 4.30pm on Friday and both involved three vehicles.

The first involved a Ford Mondeo driven by Paul O'Leary, 46, of Red Spar Road, Burnley, who was taken to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, for treatment for whiplash injuries, a Nissan Micra driven by Kathleen Stevenson, 80, of Fields Road, Haslingden, who was taken to Burnley General Hospital, and a Renault driven by Kellen Draper, 21, of Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, who received treatment at the scene. Both also had whiplash injuries.

Both their vehicles ended up on a grass verge.

At the same time the second accident occurred only a short distance away and involved a VW Polo driven by Susan Walker, 19, of Whittaker Street, Accrington. She was treated at the scene, also for whiplash.

Also involved in that accident was a Volvo driven by David Macleod, 54, of The Dene, Blackburn, and a Land Rover driven by Frank Elson, 51, of Hardman Close, Cowpe, Rossendale.

One lane of the road was closed for two-and-a-half hours, causing long tailbacks towards Rawtenstall.