A Birmingham Post journalist has told how he cheated death in a horrific road accident which turned his car into a fireball and claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

Paramedics raced to the accident but despite their best efforts, the male motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richard Edmonds, the Post’s literary editor, said he owed his life to two passers-by who pulled him from his burning Vauxhall Corsa.

Mr Edmonds revealed that the impact had trapped his leg as the blaze started to engulf the car.

“They were angels,” said Mr Edmonds. “I was trapped in the car and the driver’s door was a wall of flames. They were shouting at me ‘the car is going to go up’

“But my leg was trapped between the door and the steering wheel and I couldn’t get out. So I put out my arms and they grabbed my wrists and dragged me out, I think through the passenger door window.

“I just collapsed, I couldn’t stand, I was incoherent. Then the car exploded.”

He spoke while recovering at his home near Kidderminster following the accident on October 30 at 2pm. It happened at a notorious junction on the A458 at Six Ashes, near Bridgnorth when a motorcylist was in a collision with Mr Edmonds’ car.

The Midlands Air Ambulance was also scrambled to the scene from RAF Cosford along with an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle.

Firefighters from three stations took nearly half an hour to put out the fire, with the road remaining closed until 6.40pm. The biker was later named as Allan John Green, aged 66, of Gawne Lane, Cradley Heath. Mr Edmonds was taken to the Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, where he was treated for minor injuries and severe shock.

Mr Edmonds said: “It had been a perfect day. I was on what seemed a perfectly safe, empty road when suddenly there was huge impact and the car spun around.

“At first I didn’t know what had happened. I suddenly had a wrenching pain in my back, there was windscreen glass all over my face and my eyes.

“I heard a roaring sound from under the car and was shouting for help when my two rescuers appeared.

“I don’t know who they are, but without doubt I owe them my life.”