AN HEROIC driver cheated death by inches today after he swerved off the road to avoid a car carrying children. His wagon ended up teetering on the brink of a 100ft drop off the edge of a Bolton bridge after smashing through a fence.

He was only saved from plunging to his death by trees at the side of Bradshaw Brook which propped up the cleaning wagon.

The accident happened shortly before 9am at the junction of Crompton Way and Bury Road, Breightmet.

Police said the driver told them his brakes failed as he approached a red traffic light at the junction.

He hauled the wagon off the road and over the kerb. It smashed into a street sign, through an iron fence and into trees, shattering the windscreen.

The driver had swerved to avoid a Vauxhall Astra which was carrying a woman driver and children.

A police spokesman said: "The driver took evasive action when he saw the car in front. You never know, but he probably saved the lives of the family in front of him."

The driver, who has not been named, was in shock and taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary with whiplash injuries and cuts.

Station Officer Peter Seddon, of Bolton Central fire station, said: "The driver swerved left after his brakes failed. Had the trees not been there he'd have been a goner too."

Police said they could not confirm that the vehicle's brakes had failed.

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