A VAN driver suffered serious injuries and was trapped for more than an hour when his vehicle collided head-on with a bus at 7.15am today.

Five people were taken to Burnley General Hospital after the accident, in Booth Road, Stacksteads, near the junction with Rook Hill Road.

Fire crews, three ambulances and police attended.

Bacup Sub Officer Eddie Steel said: "We used cutting machines to remove the door and the roof of the vehicle while paramedics stablised the driver.

"He was conscious throughout but the front end of the van had trapped him by his knees.

"Once we removed the roof and door we pushed the front of the vehicle off him so paramedics could get him out." The driver suffered serious head and leg injuries and was taken to Burnley General hospital by paramedics.

The Rossendale Transport 25-seater Dennis Dart bus was being driven by Frank Deacy, who was taken to Burnley General Hospital along with three passengers, who all sustained minor cuts and bruises.

Traffic was diverted from the scene until 10am while emergency crews attended the injured and the accident was investigated.

Edgar Oldham, managing director of Rossendale Transport, said: "Our driver is now back at the depot and he seems to be okay. He has a graze to his knee and is in shock.

"We will be doing a full investigation into what happened."

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