FOUR people escaped death when they were dragged from a burning car following a high speed head-on smash in Burnley.

And today firefighters praised the quick actions of passers-by who saved the people after the Volkswagen Polo they were travelling in burst into flames.

The incident happened in Red Lees Road, Cliviger, at about 9.55pm yesterday when the red Polo, driven by a woman and carrying three men, and a black Nissan Micra, being driven by a woman towards Burnley, collided. Two passers-by rushed to rescue those trapped in the Polo when a fire started in the engine compartment following the smash which happened on the 50mph bend 50 yards from the junction of Salterford Lane.

People also came out from their homes to give blankets to the injured.

They were given first aid by firefighters until paramedics arrived. All five were taken to hospital with a variety of injuries including a broken leg, broken arms, broken collar bone and stomach injuries.

The road was closed for more than a hour while police carried out an investigation Watch manager Neil Ashworth said: "It was a head-on crash and looked to be at speed.

"The fire was in the engine compartment and it was spreading to the rest of the car when we arrived.

"There were several people at the scene who helped and the people in the car would have died if the passers-by had not helped.

"It was a real team effort."

Janet Baldwin, whose house the accident happened outside, today said: "The first thing I heard was the impact. When I went outside the car was blazing and the driver of the Polo was laying in the road."