A VAN driver was trapped in his cab for an hour after overturning on a notorious East Lancashire road.

Grane Road, linking Blackburn with Haslingden, was closed for more than two hours, causing traffic chaos.

Sub officer Frank McVan, of Rawtenstall Fire Station, said that fire-fighters had to cut the driver free from his frozen food vehicle by removing the windscreen.

Paramedics took him to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with suspected neck injuries.

The van is thought to have skidded on a diesel patch and overturned shortly after 7am landing half on the road and half on the grass embankment.

Police closed Grane Road from its junction with Helmshore Road and the M65.

Speed restrictions, cameras and traffic calming have been installed in the road aimed at cutting the number of accidents on the road, where three people have died in two years.

In January, new signs were put up to divert traffic to other routes. Signs directing Blackburn-bound traffic on the A56 Haslingden by-pass to use Grane Road were removed.

New signs have been erected directing lorries heading for Blackburn to continue along the A56 instead of turning off on to Grane Road.