AN injured driver has made a plea from his hospital bed for the heroic passers-by who saved him from his burning sports car to contact him.

Peter Mabey (66) was trapped inside his Westfield special sports car as flames licked around his legs.

Teacher Amanda Shuman (or Sluman) was the first driver to stop but, despite her brave efforts, she was unable to free 15-stone Mr Mabey from the sports car's tiny cockpit.

She flagged down other motorists, appealing for help, and a blue van pulled up, which Mr Mabey believes might belong to a firm of builders or painters.

At least two men jumped out of the van and, grabbing something from inside their vehicle, they threw it over the sports car in an attempt to put out the fire.

Despite Mr Mabey's warnings that the car was "full of petrol and could explode", they wrenched the side off the car and managed to pull Mr Mabey to safety.

This week, his wife, Eileen, said: "Had there not been any passers-by at that moment prepared to help my husband, he would not be here now."

The drama happened the Thursday before last on the Salisbury-to-London road, near St Thomas's railway bridge at Bishopdown.

Mrs Mabey, who is manager of Pembroke House, the sheltered accommodation in Fisherton Street, said her husband was taken to Salisbury District Hospital, where he had plastic surgery to burn injuries to one of his legs.

Her husband, who was 66 on the day after the incident, is now progressing well and, although he is suffering from the effects of shock, he is desperate to trace the people who had saved his life.

Mrs Mabey said: "Police who attended the scene said Amanda and the two men deserve commendations for what they did.

"My husband and I want to thank them personally - if only we knew who they were and where they live."

All are asked to contact Mr and Mrs Mabey at 40 Pembroke House, Fisherton Street, Salisbury, so that they can be "properly thanked" for their heroic actions.