Two funeral directors rushed to pull a man out of his crashed car this morning.

Bobby Palliser, 29, and his business partner Stephen Platt, 40, were in their office in Sheerness Broadway when the black Mini Clubman embedded itself around a lamppost outside Blackburn Lodge residential home.

Mr Palliser said: "We heard a huge bang and ran outside and saw the car wrapped around a lamppost. There was thick black smoke coming from under the bonnet and filling the car. Initially we thought the driver had done a runner."

He added: "I raced across the road and wrenched open the driver's door to check no one was inside and in the smoke I found the driver slumped at the wheel.

"I pulled him out in case the car went up in flames. All the air bags had gone off and all we could hear was the car's horn sounding. It was like something out of Grand Theft Auto."

Police, two fire crews and paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance Service were called and an air ambulance landed on grass by the Roman Catholic church but the driver, believed to be in his mid-60s, was taken to hospital by road.

Mr Palliser of Palliser Platt and Sons Funerals said: "I've never run so fast in my life. And I have no idea where I got the strength from to pull open the door. It all happened so fast.

"Steve and I checked for a pulse and to make sure the man was breathing. At one stage I think he lost consciousness.

"Luckily we got him out of the smoke. I think he may have died if he had stayed there."

He added: "The paramedics were brilliant. The man gave us a 'thumbs-up' as they loaded him into the back of the ambulance."

Minnie McCoy of Kings Bingo also dashed out to help and spent time on the ground reassuring the driver.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at 11.49am on Monday to a single vehicle collision in Broadway, Sheerness. Officers are in attendance and have enforced a localised road closure to ensure public safety." He said no serious injuries had been reported.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called to reports of a crash involving one vehicle in Broadway, Sheerness. Two fire engines attended and on arrival crews found the driver was already out of the car and was passed into the care of SECAmb."

The road was cleared just after 1.30pm.

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