A LORRY driver came within 'inches of losing his life' yesterday after arsonists torched his vehicle as he slept in the cab.

Ian Gammell was soundly asleep off the road in Clayton-le-Moors at around 4.30am, unaware of the fire raging through his cargo of cardboard.

With the flames inches from his cab, the married dad's life was saved thanks to three passers-by.

They frantically banged on the window and managed to wake Mr Gammell up.

He escaped unharmed but extremely shaken.

Fire crews said the blaze was just seconds from igniting the area where he slept.

It took firefighters four hours to extinguish the lorry which has been left a burnt out shell.

A hunt has now been launched for the arsonists, as well as an appeal for the three passers-by to come forward.

Mr Gammell, who is in his late 40s, had travelled from Bathgate in Scotland and was en route to Halifax when he took the rest stop at Clayton Business Park, off Blackburn Road.

Rodney Rudge, his boss at Greater Manchester haulage firm R Rudge and Son Ltd, said they had been left devastated.

He said: “We are all very grateful to the people who woke him up and just thankful that he was not seriously injured .

“There is a complete lack of consideration for anyone else’s belongings and I am afraid that this is the type of society we have created.

“My driver came within inches of losing his life.

"We just hope that whoever is responsible for this is caught. ”

Mr Rudge said the blaze could cost the family-run firm, based in Littleborough, near Rochdale, up to £80,000.

Neil Cooper, Accrington Fire Station Crew Manager, said Mr Gammell had been 'very lucky to escape'.

He said: “He is very shaken. Police are treating this incident very seriously as someone came very close to losing their life.”

Crews remained at the scene through yesterday morning after the early hours blaze, hosing down the burned out shell of the truck and the tons of smouldering cardboard.

Lancashire police and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have now launched a joint investigation.

Detective Constable Andy Bleasdale said: “We are interested in speaking to these three youths because their actions have prevented what could have been a very serious incident.

"One of the youths contacted the emergency services and Lancashire Fire and Rescue attended.

“We are currently reviewing CCTV footage and we would like to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time.”

Call police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.