FIREFIGHTERS who turned out to free a trapped man from his crushed car were shocked to find it was their own colleague.

A fireman at the scene said things got a bit frantic when the Dartford crew realised they were rescuing their own fire-inspecting officer.

Two engines from Thameside Fire Station and one from Dartford were called to Galley Hill in Swanscombe after the two cars collided head on.

The officer, from the Dartford Fire Safety Office, was trapped in his car for an hour while crews with hydraulic equipment worked to cut him out.

They had a difficult job as the car had been crushed from the front by the other vehicle and to the side by a wall.

Russell Warren, fireman at the Dartford station, said: "When red watch turned up at the scene of the accident the car was in a bad state and it looked like a fatal accident.

"Our fire officer was extremely lucky to come away with minor injuries.

"He is a very lucky man."

A spokesman for Thameside Fire Station said: "Luckily we managed to cut him out as soon as we could and he escaped with minor leg and head injuries.

"This is a dangerous piece of road as people will attempt to overtake and it is not safe to do so."

An ambulance was waiting to take the injured man to Darent Valley Hospital.

The two passengers in the other car in the accident escaped with minor cuts and bruises.

North Kent police are appealing for witnesses to a third car that overtook on the hill and sped off without stopping.

The accident happened on Monday, at 7.30pm at the junction of Galley Hill and Stonebridge Road.

Anyone with information on the third car should call Dartford Police on 01322 280055.