A BRAVE North Yorkshire pensioner risked his life to save a teenager whose blazing car crashed into his garden wall today.

Bill Pulleyn, 77, of The Village, Wigginton, sprang into action when he was woken in the early hours by the sound of a crash, and saw a red Vauxhall Corsa on fire outside his house.

Mr Pulleyn, a well-known York garage boss, instantly realised that if he did not put out the fire, the car would explode, killing the young man still trapped inside.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher from his utility room and battled to extinguish the flames. Fire crews then arrived and cut the crash victim free.

Today Mr Pulleyn earned official praise for his quick thinking and courage, which police said may well have saved the teenager's life.

The accident happened when the Corsa collided with a blue Ford Escort as both travelled towards Haxby at 2.50am.

The Escort car spun around and came to rest 65 metres away from the Corsa, lodged in the Wigginton village sign.

A female passenger in the Corsa, also thought to be in her late teens, was thrown from the vehicle by the impact. Both she and the trapped teenager were taken to York Hospital with serious injuries. Two others were also taken to hospital and a total of six were involved in the accident.

Mr Pulleyn told the Evening Press: "I saw a flame starting under the car's bonnet. I had to get it out quickly before it exploded. I just hope the young man is okay."

Mr Pulleyn, who owns two garages, F R Pulleyn's in Wigginton Road and Station Garage in Haxby, said his knowledge of cars helped him know what to do. His wife, Nancy, 78, said: "There was an almighty bang. It was lucky we had a fire extinguisher and my husband just rushed out with it."

The Corsa smashed one of the gateposts of the Pulleyns' home and their garden was filled with debris from the car today.

Mrs Pulleyn said she believed if they had not had strong brick gateposts the car could have ended up crashing into their home. She said they had been so shaken by the incident, they had been awake most of the night.

Sergeant Nicola Lamb, of North Yorkshire Police, praised Mr Pulleyn for saving the young man.

She said: "My understanding is that if they hadn't put the fire out, it's possible that the man could have burned to death at the scene."

Sgt Lamb said the Corsa had previously been travelling on the B1363 York to Helmsley road and she appealed for witnesses to telephone 01904 631321.

Updated: 12:41 Saturday, September 20, 2003