TWO drivers were trapped and one had to be cut free by firefighters after a 10-tonne lorry skidded on black ice into a bus.

The accident, near to Shaw Garage, in Market Street, Shawforth, blocked the busy main road between Bacup and Rochdale for three hours from 6.45am today.

The bus driver, Mohammed Akhtar, from Rochdale, and the lorry driver escaped serious injury but their vehicles were extensively damaged.

Fire crews from Bacup attended along with the incident support units from Rochdale and Accrington, paramedics and police. No passengers were on the bus, a single decker.

Sub Officer John Lord, from Bacup Fire Station said: "It is amazing when you see the state of the front of both vehicles that the drivers weren't more seriously hurt.

"The bus driver was trapped by his feet and fortunately a firefighter managed to get his hand in and manoeuvre his feet free so he was only trapped for about 15 minutes.

"On the lorry, we had to cut away at the cab to enable one of our crew to get his hand in and manoeuvre the driver's foot free and then he released after about 30 minutes."

Residents heard a terrific bang when the two vehicles collided on the Bacup-bound side of the road. The Rossendale Transport bus was travelling from Rochdale to Accrington on the mainline service. The N-registered lorry, owned by Burnley-based caterers Brake Brothers, was travelling in the direction of Rochdale. Police sergeant Eddie Entwistle said: "The lorry was going down a steep hill probably at about 20mph when he got on to black ice and the lorry started to accelerate and lost control and hit the front of the bus, driver's side to driver's side.

The men were taken to Rochdale Infirmary. DAMAGE: The drivers escaped with

minor injuries