A POLICE officer who rescued a man from a burning car has been praised by senior officers.

PC John Fawcett was called to an accident on the A64, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, at about 7.20am yesterday.

A silver Vauxhall Vectra carrying two men had left the road, crashed through a fence and landed on its roof 30ft down a railway embankment.

A police spokesman said: "PC Fawcett found one of the men nearby and realised that the other was still in the car, which was on fire.

"The doors would not open and he could see the young man inside, motionless with blood all over his face.

"He smashed the windscreen with his baton and dragged the man out."

A passing off-duty officer then tackled the fire with an extinguisher.

The spokesman said PC Fawcett played down his actions, saying he was "only doing his job".

However, senior officers praised the officer and are already looking for ways to recognise his quick-thinking and bravery.

The two men, who are believed to be Romanian, were treated for multiple injuries at Scarborough Hospital.