A GOBSMACKED taxi driver today described how he was lucky to be alive after a concrete slab fell 100ft from a viaduct on to his car.

Father-of-four Abid Shah, 47, had been in the vehicle just moments before it was wiped out in the incident in Arch Street, Burnley.

Mr Shah, a partner in Ronnie's Taxi firm of St James Street, Burnley, had been waiting in the Toyota Corolla outside Burnley Car Dismantlers to discuss repairs on the vehicle.

He said: "I was waiting for cars to be moved out of the garage and then I went in to have a work with the owner about getting my car repaired.

"I was only out of the car for a few minutes when I heard this loud bang and when I looked a concrete slab had fallen from the viaduct and crushed the middle of my car.

"If it had been a few minutes earlier or later I would have been in the car and I might not be here today." Owner of the garage Liaqat Ali said: "It could have hit anyone of my staff who regularly walk on that section of road to move vehicles.

"We were both very shook up by what happened. It is a very very dangerous thing to have happened.

"Sometimes when Mr Shah comes to ask for work he actually talks to me out of the car window and doesn't come into the garage."

The D-registered vehicle is a write off, but Mr Shah, of Heald Wood Road, Burnley, said: "It is not the cost of the car it is my livelihood that has been destroyed.

"I have been trying to get a courtesy car but so far have not been successful. When I replace the vehicle I am not going to have to buy a much newer one because Burnley Council's regulations have changed."

British Transport Police have yet to establish whether the concrete lid, used to cover gullies, was dislodged on purpose or as a result of high winds when the incident occurared at 8.30pm on Tuesday.

Mr Shah believes it could have been left on the 3ft high wall which surrounds the top of the viaduct after work was carried out on the tracks a few months ago.