A 71-YEAR-OLD man was fighting for his life last night after an horrific road smash.

The man suffered serious injuries when his Ford Focus was in a head-on collision along Whalley Road, near Sabden, yesterday.

He was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital and was said to be in a critical condition.

Fire crews had to cut off the roof of the other vehicle, a Ford Escort, to release a man trapped inside.

Police closed the road for several hours to carry out an investigation.

Sgt Gareth Hill, from the road policing unit, said: “I would appeal to anybody who witnessed it or has any information about the collision to contact police.”

The crash happened on a tight bend and one of the vehicles careered through a dry stone wall near Hillside Farm.

The pensioner, from Whalley, who has not been named, was driving towards Sabden when his car collided with the Ford Escort at 9.30am.

Two men, aged 54 and 31, from Darwen, who were heading towards Whalley, suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

One of the men is believed to have suffered neck injuries.

Both were taken to hospital by paramedics.

A resident who witnessed the aftermath of the crash said: “One of the cars had ended up in the field and I could see someone being taken away on a stretcher.

“It looked pretty horrific. There are usually accidents on the road but it’s never been this bad before.”

A clean-up operation was carried out yesterday afternoon to clear debris and oil covering the road.

Peter Bostock, of Padiham Road, said: “There is a really dangerous bend on that road.”

Call traffic police with information on 08451 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.