KENT motorcyclist James Huck leapt into action when a burning van drove into a petrol station.

The 24-year-old fundraising co-ordinator was on his way back to Cliftonville, near Margate, and was repairing his machine at the BP service station on the Thanet Way, near Faversham, at around 7.30pm on Friday when the drama unfolded.

He said: "An open-back pick-up truck drove very quickly into the services. The back of the cab and a tarpaulin cover were on fire.

"Pieces of blazing tarpaulin had burnt free and were flying around. I grabbed a fire extinguisher from the front of the petrol station shop and put them out while a female staff member used sand to douse flames.

"The driver of the van put out the fire on the back of the cabin and then drove off again.

"I shudder to think what would have happened if some of the flaming tarpaulin had blown into the pump area."

Police confirmed that they had received a report of the incident. A spokeswoman said: "The flames were extinguished safely."