MOTORISTS faced treacherous driving conditions as temperatures plummeted across East Lancashire.

Numerous crashes were reported to Lancashire Police yesterday as vehicles struggled to cope.

In Darwen, a van overturned at the junction of Lower Eccleshill Road and Hollins Grove Street Two other cars are understood to have then crashed near to the ASCOT Environmental buildings, causing the road to become partially closed.

Dangerous conditions were reported on the Grane Road, with cars travelling at around 2mph during the morning rush hour. A blue BMW came off Clitheroe Road near to the Eagle Inn at Barrow at around 8.15am.

A motorcyclist travelling behind the vehicle tried to stop, but skidded and came off a moped.

And in Whalley Road, near Read, a silver Ssangyong became wedged between a garden and a telegraph poll after it slid on sheet ice.

Traffic also backed up in Burnley Road and Bacup Road, in Burnley, and hazardous driving conditions were reported between Burnley and Haslingden due to snow.

Oliver Starkey, a Lancashire County Council highways manager, said: “All the main routes were gritted on Monday from 7pm as a freeze had been forecast.”

Maureen Bateson, executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We have made sure we are prepared.”

Sleet and snow were predicted to fall on higher ground in East Lancashire last night.