A BRAVE couple have told how they helped to rescue a woman trapped in her burning car after an accident in which another motorist died.

The 55-year-old woman was driving her BMW along Hoath Way in Gillingham on Monday afternoon when it was in collision with a Jaguar.

The driver of the Jaguar, father-of two Fausto Cutone, 27, who lived at Hamelin Road, Darland, Gillingham, was killed instantly.

The BMW driver, from Hunton, near Maidstone, is still in Medway Maritime Hospital where her condition was said today to be serious but stable."

Martin Ward and Debbie Lavinchi, of Cloudsley Close, Rochester, were travelling home from work when they saw the crash. As smoke and flames poured from the BMW, they realised the woman driver was trapped inside.

Mr Ward used hand fire extinguishers from his and Miss Lavinchi's vehicles to fight the flames. He said: "Every time we put out the flames they kept re-igniting. The woman was screaming that her legs were burning and she was scared she was going to die in her car."

"I ripped the roof off and with the help of the paramedic we pulled the woman from the smouldering car." Meanwhile, Miss Lavinchi held the woman's hand and tried to reassure her."

Leading firefighter Ian Crouch said: "The couple did extremely well and were courageous." Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to call 01634 884252.