MUM Laura Banks is to receive a bravery award for helping to rescue a badly burned man from his blazing car.

Despite a danger of the vehicle exploding into a fireball, Miss Banks, of Kingham Close, Chippenham, and PCSO Jonathan Bintcliffe, based in Bath, ignored their own safety to pull the man from the flames.

Now both are to be given Royal Humane Society awards by Princess Alexandra.

The incident happened in April last year, in a layby on the B3107 Holt to Melksham road just after midday.

Sadly Colin Hancock, 50, of The Midlands, Holt, died in hospital three days later of multiple organ failure and severe fire-related burns. An inquest in October recorded a verdict of suicide.

Miss Banks, 26, who works as a research executive at Tribe communications agency in Holt, was first on the scene.

She said: “This car was just filled with smoke and I thought it was funny no one was standing near it. I parked up but I couldn’t see anything in the car at all because of all the smoke.”

Soon she was joined by off-duty PCSO Bintcliffe, who told onlookers to stay clear and smashed the window with a jack.

“Lots of smoke and flames poured out,” said Miss Banks, whose daughter Lyla was two at the time.

“Jonathan pulled the guy out, he was breathing. I helped to carry him and we put him in the recovery position while the air ambulance came. I told him, You’re going to be okay. He wasn’t responding.”

They had moved Mr Hancock behind a van about 15 metres away when they heard a series of bangs as the car exploded.

Miss Banks said, if it happened again, she said she would do the same.

However, she added: “It was definitely hard for a few weeks as I drove past the lay-by where it happened, for work. Even now I always check it.”

Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: “They did all they could to save this man with no thought of the danger they were putting themselves in. They could both have been badly burned or killed.

“They were true heroes, and, while sadly the man died, by doing what they did they gave him the best possible chance of surviving. They richly deserve the awards they are to receive.”

Miss Banks said: “I don’t feel I deserve an award, anybody would do the same. Jonathan was incredibly supportive, during and after, and I feel like I’ve made a true friend for life. He is the true hero.”

Their awards, made following a recommendation from Avon and Somerset Police, are to be presented in Haberdashers’ Hall in London on May 6.