A man who had just insured his new car escaped without injury after it collided with a wall on a bend.

Firefighters were called to the scene at Netherfield Road in Gusieley just before 7pm yesterday after passers-by reported the crash and the car on fire.

But when a crew from Rawdon arrived the man was safely out.

A fire spokesman said: “The young man was fine except for complaining bitterly it was a new car and he’d just got it insured.

“We’d got reports the car was on fire at first but people must have seen the cloud of talcum-like powder that is released when an airbag goes up.”