FIREMEN have slammed drivers for not slowing down after four separate accidents on the same stretch of road.

The A675 near Belmont was covered in black ice yesterday morning and there were four crashes within 50 minutes of each other.

In the first crash, a driver lost control of his car close to Belmont Sailing Club. His car skidded on ice, left the road and hit a tree.

Soon after there was a crash about 100 yards along the road and two others near the junction of Tockholes Road and Belmont Road.

A spokesman for Darwen Fire Brigade criticised motorists for not slowing down while they were trying to deal with the incidents.

"Because there were so many accidents in such a short space of time, our colleagues from Greater Manchester had to attend.

"It got to the stage where Greater Manchester drove along the whole stretch of road to see if there were any more incidents.

"We had to put officers out on the road to warn drivers of the obstructions ahead and put signs up warning of black ice but many motorists did not slow down.

"Some were just swerving through the crashes, taking no notice of the black ice and putting themselves and other people in danger, these were very irresponsible actions."

No-one was injured in the car accidents, but most were treated for shock.