A TEENAGER is fighting for life after his car ploughed into a pedestrian crossing in Horwich.

It took firefighters more than an hour to free the 19-year-old driver from the wreckage of the Peugeot 106 in Chorley New Road.

The teenager, from Blackrod, suffered serious head and chest injuries and is being treated in the intensive care unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital where his condition is critical.

Chorley New Road was closed from the Beehive pub to Crompton Road for more than three hours.

It is believed the Peugeot 106 had been driving along De Havilland Way with a Citroen ZX when both vehicles turned right into Chorley New Road shortly after 11.30pm yesterday.

As the cars approached the junction with Oxford Road, the Peugeot 106 collided with a Peugeot 206 which was waiting to turn right.

The 106 careered off the carriageway and collided with the crossing. Two 20-year-old male passengers from Horwich and Blackrod escaped with minor injuries.

The 21-year-old driver of the 206 was treated for a neck injury and two 22-year-old passengers from Horwich did not need hospital treatment.

The Citroen ZX failed to stop at the scene of the crash.

The 20-year-old driver from Little Lever and 21-year-old female passenger were later arrested at an address in Bolton.

They were released on bail until Monday March 8.

PC Phil Aspin from Bolton Road Policing Unit, who attended the scene, has made an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

He said: "At the time of the accident, only one independent witness came forward.

"We need to speak to anyone who saw the crash or the way the Peugeot 106 and the Citroen were driving prior to the accident around the area, in particular De Havilland Way."

Anyone with information should call the unit on 0161 856 5973.