A CAR smashed through a 25-foot tall tree and a steel fence before coming to rest on its roof in flames on the driveway of a woman in her 60s.

The emergency services all responded to the crash which saw one man taken to hospital and luckily missed the lady's house by inches.

Watch manager Rick Taylor from Bury Fire Station said: "The fire from the car has damaged the fascia and guttering on the property. It's really lucky it didn't smash into the house."

He commented that he had been shocked by the car felling a tree saying: "I've never seen a tree taken off at the base before."

Mr Taylor and the crews from Bury and Whitefield stations were called at 6.41am this morning to the burning Renault Clio in Ribchester Drive along with the police and ambulance service.

The lady living in the semi-detached bungalow as well as some of her neighbours were woken by the crash.

When the fire crews arrived an off-duty paramedic was treating a man who was later taken to Salford Royal Hospital in an ambulance.

Paul Fearnhead, group manager at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, had control at the scene.

He tweeted afterwards: "Quick work this morning by crews from Whitefield and Bury to stop a car fire spreading to a house. Vehicle landed on its roof after collision with a tree."

It is understood police are investigating the incident.