A FARMER had a "miracle escape" after the ceiling of a barn collapsed on top of him, trapping him for more than two hours.

Mark Gornall, 45, a former world-class cyclist who competed at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, is recovering in hospital after suffering just cuts and bruises.

Girlfriend Nicola Letten said that doctors told Mr Gornall, who broke his back in a quad-biking accident 15 years ago, that he was just inches from death when the internal loft of the 20-year-old barn collapsed on him on Friday.

She said: "He has been so lucky and he is almost back to being his usual chirpy self.

"We hope he will be home in a few days.

"It is a miracle that he was not killed or seriously injured.

"One of the main beams from the loft area landed right next to him, trapping his leg.

"The investigators said that it was inches away from killing him."

The accident happened at Laneside Farm, just off the A59, in Pendleton, near Clitheroe.

Mr Gornall was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital after the accident that saw the barn's first floor, used to store animal feed, collapse on top of the farmer.

Rescuers worked to make the building safe before wooden beams could be lifted to free him.

Police, fire crews, rescuers from the urban search and rescue team and paramedics spent two hours getting him out.

Mr Gornall is now recovering in hospital and still has a badly swollen leg where the beam landed and cut off his circulation.

His mum, Margaret, said the barn, used to milk cows, was around 20 years old and they had never had any problems with it.

The family have been farming at the site for 40 years and a nearby building is inscribed with the date 1793.

She said: "He had gone out there after hearing some of the cow feed falling down. It must have been the start of the ceiling collapsing.

"It all happened so quickly.

"It was an absolutely horrific accident and we're just pleased that he's going to be allright."

The barn has been sealed off by police and the Health and Safety Executive is set to investigate.

Mrs Gornall said that her son broke his back in an accident near the farm around 15 years ago when he fell off a quad bike but he recovered fully.

Mr Gornall took part in the men's individual road race at the Seoul Olympics.