A COACH carrying Ribble Valley mayor Jenny Grimes and tourism chiefs was involved in a country lane crash as it returned from a trip to the coast.

The party, on its way back from Wyre, also included councillors, business representatives and staff from Clitheroe's tourist information centre.

Tourist information officer Mary Parker said it was lucky that nobody was seriously injured when the coach and a maroon Honda car collided on the Longridge to Hurst Green road.

Car driver Stewart Walmsley, 18, of Calder Avenue, Longridge, was taken to Preston Hospital with minor injuries to his forehead and was later released.

Passenger Matthew Draper, 18, of Thornley, was unhurt. The coach was driven by Peter Jones, of Duckworth's Coaches, Gisburn.

Mary said: "We were returning from a wonderful day in Wyre. Everyone was badly shaken, but luckily no-one was hurt. It could have been awful. The car and coach were both substantially damaged."

She praised residents who rushed to the scene with cups of tea and offered the use of telephones.

The party waited for an hour before a replacement coach arrived to ferry them back to Clitheroe.

Wyre tourism chiefs visited Ribble Valley last month and the return visit, organised by the Ribble Valley Tourism Association, was part of a goodwill gesture.

Mary said the party had enjoyed a "great day out", visiting Parr Farm Animal Sanctuary, Freeport and Fleetwood market.

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