Tributes were paid today to pub regulars and staff who helped drag a road crash victim away from the blazing wreckage of his car.

Drinkers and workers at The Dog Inn, near Heighington, County Durham, leapt into action after hearing the horrific smash on the A68 road.

One car burst into flames after colliding head-on with another just outside the pub on Thursday night.

And yesterday, it emerged how people in the building ran outside to help pull a motorist free from his burning vehicle.

Pub landlady Pam Askey said: "All of my customers and staff were absolutely amazing, everyone just got straight out there." She added: "We weren't really that busy, it was predominantly my regulars who were in. They just literally dived in and got him out."

One diner, who asked not to be named, said: "The landlady and her regulars went straight outside to help, despite the flames and the wreckage.

"It was unreal. I didn't know people were good enough to still act that way."

Debris from the vehicles was still scattered over the grass verge near the pub yesterday.

The collision, between a Citroen Xantia and a Seat Ibiza, occurred at about 8.20pm.

The Citroen driver - named yesterday as Jonathan Andrew Bradley, 32, of Darlington - was certified dead on arrival at the town's Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the Seat suffered a broken arm, while his two passengers sustained serious injuries and were also being treated at the hospital yesterday. Their injuries were not said to be life-threatening.

Fire service divisional officer Dave Turnbull said: "The members of the public are the stalwart of the fire service.

"Of course we don't always advise people having a go because things can go wrong.

"But what these people did was obviously very community-spirited and the fire service applauds their bravery in this incident."

Two fire appliances from Newton Aycliffe and one from Bishop Auckland, as well as a heavy rescue vehicle, were called to the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact Durham Police's road traffic unit on 0191-375 2159 or 0845 6060365.