A LORRY driver suffered an electric shock when he came into contact with an overhead power cable at a remote farm.

The man was taken by air ambulance to hospital suffering from minor injuries following the incident at Laneside Farm, near Pendleton.

At first police believed the blue tipper lorry he was driving may have struck the cable but then said his burns indicated he may have touched the cable himself.

Emergency services were called to the farm just before 1pm following reports that a man, who is thought to be from Derbyshire, had been hurt.

The North West Air Ambulance was scrambled to the scene and the injured man was taken to Burnley General Hospital.

A police spokeswoman described the incident as 'nothing more than a farmyard accident', but added they were still investigating the circumstances.

She said: "Just before 1pm we received reports that a driver had collided with power cables and 'electrocuted' himself.

"But on closer examination it appears the vehicle might not have actually touched the cables, which were in the farmyard. It appears the man has some kind of contact burns, possibly from touching the cable himself.

"We are still not entirely sure how this accident happened, however, we must stress that there were no safety issues with the power line."

Lancashire Ambulance Service confirmed it took a man to hospital with minor injuries after a wagon drove into overhead power lines.

A man working at the farm, which is accessed via a minor road from Pendleton Hall, said: "I just saw him lying there. I think he had gone into the power cable. He was just suffering from shock. I believe he's just gone to hospital for a check-up. The paramedics said it didn't look very serious."