A MOTORIST and his passenger escaped unhurt when his gold BMW caught fire on the A12 duel carriageway in East London at 1am today. They managed to get out in time when the engine suddenly went up in flames coming through the Bow Bridge underpass heading north towards Old Ford

A MOTORIST and his passenger escaped unhurt when his gold BMW caught fire on the A12 duel carriageway in East London at 1am today.

They managed to get out in time when the engine suddenly went up in flames coming through the Bow Bridge underpass heading north towards Old Ford. The engine was totally wrecked and the vehicle badly damaged.

Rescuers were out an hour later using cutting gear to free a car wrapped round a signpost a mile away. The driver and his two passengers managed to get out without a scratch after the Vauxhall hit the post in Burdett Road, Mile End, at 2am, but a fire crew had to cut the post away which was embedded underneath the vehicle.