A YOUNG motorist and his passenger had an incredible escape after their car flipped into the air and crashed into a tree.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said the car was "virtually bent in half" when emergency services arrived at the scene in Hoath Way, Gillingham on Saturday morning.

The passenger managed to get out of the Fiat Punto by crawling through a window, but firefighters had to free the trapped driver from the wreckage of the vehicle.

The spokesman added that the driver said he had swerved to avoid something which had flown into his path.

The spokesman added: "The car had somersaulted through the air at least 20ft, and hand ended up squashed on its roof. It's amazing that anyone got out of the car alive."

Hoath Way was closed off while emergency services dealt with the incident.

See Monday's Medway Messenger for the full story.