A WOMAN driver was rescued from her burning car by a passing army officer.

The woman’s car ended up on its side after hitting a traffic island in Chorley New Road, Bolton, at 7.35pm on Sunday.

As the car engine set ablaze, Dale Guffog grabbed a fire extinguisher. Mr Guffog, a father of two from Lostock, made sure the woman was conscious before calling emergency services.

Mr Guffog was first on the scene to help the 32-year-old, moments after her Vauxhall Zafira crashed.

He grabbed the extinguisher from his car and put out the blaze.

Paramedics treated the woman, who has not been named, at the scene. She was taken to hospital and allowed home that night. Mr Guffog, an army warrant officer based near Preston, is the younger brother of Wayne Guffog, the manager at Bolton North.

He said: “Being in the army obviously prepares you for incidents like this, but being related to someone in the fire service means you are more aware of fire safety and what to do in a crisis, which is why I always carry a fire extinguisher in my car.” The 44-year-old saw debris in the road as he drove along Chorley New Road. Mr Guffog said: “I got out, ran over and asked the woman if anyone else was in the vehicle. She said it was just her and she was okay and hadn’t been badly injured.

“A couple of others were helping out and a doctor came to check over the woman.”

Firefighters enroute to a routine appointment near Horwich were near the scene and freed the woman from the car.

Police closed a section of the road, near the junction with Beaumont Road, for 90 minutes while they cleared the debris and made the electrics from the traffic island safe. The Vauxhall Zafira was a write-off. Mr Guffog added: “I told Wayne what happened and he was happy that the woman was alright. I did what anyone would do in that situation. The key is keeping calm.”

Crew commander Phil Dearden, based at Bolton Fire Station in Moor Lane, added: “There was always the possibility that the fire could have spread and he reacted brilliantly.”

Police are appealing for witness to the crash to call them on 101.