A BURNLEY teenager who helped rescue a man trapped inside an overturned lorry insisted: "I'm no hero".

Motorists were stuck in long tailbacks into yesterday evening after the lorry overturned on the roundabout next to St Theresa's Church and the Travelodge - a main route into town - at 12.55pm.

An investigation has been launched into why the HGV from Haslingden-based flooring company Interfloor overturned, although speed was not thought to be an issue.

Danny Scaife, 19, an apprentice mechanic at Lookers Garage, Accrington Road, leapt into action to help the driver Rick Elderkin after hearing a huge crashing noise outside.

Danny, of St Matthews Street, Burnley, said: "The diesel was spilling onto the road and the driver was stuck in the cab with the engine still running.

"It could have been really dangerous if the lorry caught fire so I climbed up and kicked the window screen in so I could turn the engine off.

"The driver had a chest injury but didn't seem to be badly injured. I didn't move him in case he was badly injured.

"I was on my dinner break and I heard this loud bang and thought one of the cars had fallen off the transporter delivery carrier.

"But then I saw the lorry had tipped over and people were just standing there looking.

"It's a bit embarrassing really. I'm not a hero I just did what I had to."

Mr Elderkin, a driver for Interfloor, based in Broadway, Haslingden, was pulled out of the vehicle by paramedics.

He was taken to Burnley General Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Leanne Smith, transport adminstrator at Interfloor, said: "The young lad phoned me from the cab to say the lorry had overturned.

"Rick wasn't seriously injured but he was in shock.

"We don't know how the lorry has tipped over because he was only driving slowly but that will be investigated."

The accident caused traffic chaos with part of the road being cordoned into the evening while the road was cleared.

Buses were re-routed along Accrington Road and motorists coming off the M65 were left in long queues.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: "Part of the road had to be closed to wait for a replacement lorry to arrive to re-load the plastic chippingss that had tipped off when the vehicle overturned.

"It also took quite a lot of time to try and right the lorry."