Cyril Bottomley - a 91-year-old thought to be from the Halifax area – was said to be in a serious condition at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after the accident in Poulton.

The incident happened at 11.22am at the Teanlowe Centre.

Traffic chaos followed in Poulton town centre as police, the fire brigade and ambulance service dealt with the accident.

The air ambulance was also scrambled.

Protracted

The man was taken to hospital, by road ambulance, with crush injuries to his lower body after becoming trapped under the rear wheel of the HGV.

Ambulance chief Dave Rigby, from the North West Ambulance Service, said emergency services had worked together to get the man out.

A medical team from Victoria Hospital had to be sent to the scene to assess the situation before the pensioner could be released.

Mr Rigby said: "It was quite a protracted operation, due to the way the man was trapped and the nature of his injuries.

"The patient was trapped between the wheels of the vehicle and we did not want to release him without seeking advice from a consultant.

"The paramedics stabilised the patient and gave him pain relief and stayed under with him while the fire brigade worked.

"It took about 30 minutes to get him free. We didn't want to rush things, we had to make sure he was stable first."

Eyewitnesses said the accident happened near to the Alleyway Cafe, on Church Street, where lorries and wagons make deliveries to local businesses.

Becky Grinton, 16, a student from Poulton, saw the aftermath of the crash.

She said: "A load of police cars, an ambulance and fire engines came rushing past. I could see a wagon near to the Alleyway Cafe.

"It looked like a man was trapped underneath by his legs.

"He was conscious, but we couldn't really see because there was so much activity going on .

"The whole town centre has just gone deathly silent."

In January last year, former Baines High School pupil Rachel Thompson, 19, died after she fell into the path of a car on Tithebarn Street, outside the Teanlowe Centre.