TWELVE people were taken to hospital after a single decker bus and a car collided.

Both vehicles were propelled into a dry stone wall by the force of the impact and the Blackburn to Haslingden Grane Road was closed for several hours.

Police said the 244 Rossendale Transport bus, en route from Rawtenstall to Blackburn, was in collision with a silver Toyota Corolla that was coming around a bend at 10.47am yesterday.

A 19-year-old girl, who was thrown into the windshield of the bus, was taken to Fairfield General Hospital, Bury.

She did not sustain any serious injuries and was allowed home later in the afternoon.

Nine other passengers, the bus driver and the Toyota driver were taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital and Fairfield Hospital. None had serious injuries.

A driver of a Toyota Avensis, which collided with the back of the bus after the initial accident, escaped unharmed.

The road was closed for several hours while police carried out a crash scene investigation.

A section of Holcombe Road, Helmshore, was also closed off close to the Haldon Vale Hotel.

Council staff were called in to help remove debris from the road.

Sgt Gareth Hill, of Colne traffic unit, said: "We are reviewing CCTV footage from the bus and talking to those involved to try and find out what happened.

"The stone wall and both vehicles were badly damaged - it was fortunate no one was more seriously hurt."

Passengers who were not taken to hospital were either picked up by friends or given a lift by the bus company.

Edgar Oldham, managing director of Rossendale Transport, said: "The bus is being tested by police but there had been no problems with it as far as we are concerned.

"We had disruptions to some of our services as a result of the accident and we apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused our customers."