A TEENAGER died and another was left fighting for his life after a head-on collision involving two cars on a main road.

Fire crews were forced to use cutting equipment to release 18-year-old Kieron Ryde, of Skipton Road, Gisburn, from the wreckage of his Suzuki Swift.

He suffered multiple injuries in the crash in Wigglesworth Road, Slaidburn, just after 9pm yesterday and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Front seat passenger, Ian McCleod, 19, of Conway Avenue, Clitheroe, was critically ill in Royal Preston Hospital today with serious head injuries.

Police today appealed for witnesses to the crash, which occurred on a bend about 400 metres from the junction with Grindleton Road.

They said Mr Ryde's car collided head-on with a Ford Mondeo being driven by Matthew Lewis, 40, of Meadowside, Grindleton.

He suffered only minor injuries.

Two back seat passengers in the Suzuki, teenage girls aged 17 and 15 from the Clitheroe area, also escaped with slight injuries.

A spokesman for Lancashire Ambulance said: "We received many calls reporting this crash to us and it was very nasty.

"We were told the passengers were trapped so called out the fire service as well as the police.

"Four ambulances from Lancashire Ambulance attended the scene, taking the patients initially to Blackburn Royal Infirmary and Burnley General Hospital. "Two crews were also called from the West Yorkshire Trust as the accident was very close to the county border.

"The deceased was pronounced dead at the scene."

A spokesman for the Accrington Traffic Unit said: "It appears the cars collided as Mr Ryde was travelling around a right-hand bend.

"The road was closed for three-and-a-half hours as investigations were carried out.

"We are now keen to hear from anyone who may have seen what happened."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Accrington Traffic Police on 01254 373764.