A 21-year-old Chorley woman died from multiple injuries when she lost control of her car on an icy road and collided with a vehicle coming the other way.

Lucy McKeown, of Tinklers Road, had been driving a Ford Fiesta car on Boxing Day night last year to meet Paul Stockley.

She telephoned him to say she was on her way, but never arrived. Mr Stockley of Woodley Avenue, Accrington, then contacted police who told him there had been an accident, a Preston inquest heard.

Miss Dawn Waterhouse of Sandy Lane, Brindle, told the hearing she had driven past the Hoghton Arms on the A674, away from the M65. "It had been raining. The road was like an ice rink.

"I was doing 15mph. It had been raining and then frozen," she said.

Miss Waterhouse said she then came across the accident, which had just happened. She got out to go to the blue Fiesta, but fell on her back.

She covered the woman driver up to keep her warm. Another motorist, John Campbell, of Old Gate Drive, Blackburn also said the weather conditions were treacherous.

He too stopped to help and said the Fiesta had been 'caved in.'

Recording an accidental death verdict, County Coroner Mr Howard McCann described the accident as 'dreadful.'

In a statement to police, motorist Kevin Nelson, of Church Street, Higher Walton, described how the Fiesta came in front of his car at an angle and then there was a massive impact 'like hitting a brick wall.'

Accident Investigation Officer PC Stephen Wilson said Lucy had failed to negotiate a left-hand bend and went on to the other half of the road and collided with a motorist travelling in the opposite direction.

Weather conditions were poor at the time. Rain had frozen on the road.

It was difficult to see, but ice and frost could be anticipated.