AN 84-year-old driver had to be pulled to safety from her blazing car after she took a wrong turning and drove along a railway line.

The woman drove on to the line

yesterday afternoon at Yapton, near

Arundel.

Police believe she mistook the railway for the road back to her home in Barnham, near Bognor, but became stuck when one of her car's wheels welded to the track.

She drove her Mazda 121 along the track for about 25 yards before it burst into flames.

The woman, who was alone, had to be hauled to safety by Brian Church, 42, of Bognor, from the crossing on North End Lane.

Minutes later fire crews from Littlehampton and Arundel arrived.

The woman was taken to St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, as a precaution but was not injured.

Mr Church said: "I was driving behind her just before the level crossing.

"I saw her go down the track and thought, 'I don't believe it.'

"I saw the wheels on her car were

starting to spark

and immediately stopped my van

after the level crossing and ran back to

her. She looked terrified."

He rang the police and then helped the driver to safety.

There were no trains in the area

at the time but rail officials and the police said the motorist had a lucky escape.

Trains were cancelled between

Littlehampton and Bognor for three hours between 1.30pm and 4pm and the level crossing was closed.

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