POLICE today confirmed two more deaths on East Lancashire’s roads bringing the total to three in one tragic day.

The three separate crashes took place within five hours.

A 22-year-old woman died in a crash on the Grane Road, Belthorn, when her car overturned after a collision at 10.40am on Thursday.

The family of the woman, who has not been named, were being supported by specialist officers.

Just three hours later a woman in her 70s suffered fatal injuries in another crash on the A59 near Whalley.

And family yesterday paid tribute to a 41-year-old mother-of-four who died in a crash at 8.50am on Thursday in Bacup.

Celia Lynch, 41, from Bacup, was pronounced dead at the scene, after her car crashed into the wall of the Swan Hotel Indian restaurant on Market Street in the town.

In tribute, Celia’s family said: “Celia was a loving wife, sister, grandmother and mother to four wonderful children.

“She had a kind, warm and funny personality and always had time for others.

“All her family are devastated by this tragic loss and will miss her greatly.”

Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward to help them in all three investigations.

Emergency services were called to the collision in Market Street, close to the junction with Rockliffe Road.

Celia’s red Vauxhall Crossland X collided with the wall of the former pub, police said.

Sgt Steve Hardman, of Lancashire Police’s Tactical Operations, said: “These are tragic circumstances and my thoughts are with Celia’s family and friends at this sad and very difficult time.

“We are appealing for witnesses and would urge anyone who has seen what happened and yet to speak to police to come forward.

“We want to understand the exact circumstances around the collision and if you have any information please come forward.”

Anyone who can help police with the Bacup inquiry is asked to call 101 or email 2385@lancashire.pnn.police.uk quoting log 0288 of February 20.

The A59 crash involved a Citroen C3 and a Volvo HGV at around 1.45pm on Thursday between the Petre roundabout, Langho, and Bramley Mead roundabout, Whalley.

The driver of the Citroen C3, a woman in her 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger, also a woman in her 70s, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the HGV was unhurt.

The road was closed for eight hours while emergency services worked at the scene.

PC Laura Kendall said: “We would like to ask anyone who saw the incident or who caught anything on their dashcam of the incident as it happened to please get in touch with us to help us determined the circumstances around the collision.

“Our thoughts are with the woman’s family at this sad time.”

Police are appealing for any witnesses to this crash to contact them on 101 quoting log number 0727 of February 20.

The crash which killed the 22-year-old woman happened near the Grey Mare Inn near Jackson Heights Road, Belthorn.

The incident involved two cars with one vehicle landing on its side in a ditch.