SIX people were lucky to escape without serious injuries after a smash between two cars on Saturday evening in which one vehicle burst into flames.

The most serious injury sustained in the accident was a broken leg, suffered by the driver of the Ford Escort Cabriolet, which is thought to have ignited on impact.

Police believe the driver, his three passengers and the two people in the Nissan Primera estate, which was also involved in the accident, in Stanhope, County Durham, were lucky to escape without worse injuries.

The Primera had just turned left out of the Dales Centre onto the A689 when it collided with the Escort travelling West, towards the top of Weardale shortly before 6pm.

The Escort's three passengers were taken, with the driver, to the University Hospital in Durham. The occupants of the Nissan suffered shock.