A DRIVER escaped serious injury when he lost control of his lorry on a wet road and crashed through a stone wall into a community garden.

The Mercedes lorry ground to a halt halfway into the garden on the corner of Darwen Road and Hough Lane, Bromley Cross.

A large section of the wall was demolished and a conifer tree was badly damaged.

Driver Geoffrey Taylor, aged 31, from Wigan, believes the accident could have had far more serious consequences.

He said: "I am very lucky not to have been badly hurt. Thankfully there were no vehicles coming in the opposite direction and no one was in the park.

"I was only doing about 25 mph but am grateful I came to a stop when I did."

Mr Taylor, who works for North West Transport Services, had just made a delivery to the Last Drop.

He said he saw sudden brake lights of the wagon in front at the last moment, and swerved to avoid it.

He said: "It was only after I had got out and walked away that I realised what had happened.

"I have been driving for 11 years and this is the first major accident I have had. I have come out of it with just a bump on my head, and am very lucky."