FOUR people had a lucky escape when the car they were travelling in flipped over and burst into flames on the M1 on Wednesday morning.

The incident happened just before 8.24am between Junctions 5 and 6 on the northbound carriageway near St Albans.

Firefighters from across Watford and Garston arrived at the scene at 8.35am to find the grey Toyota Aventus up the embankment.

The burning vehicle was resting on its roof.

The four passengers had managed to free themselves from the car and were standing on the hard shoulder.

Paramedics worked alongside firefighters to treat the casualties for trauma and any injuries.

They were taken to Watford General Hospital in three ambulances to rule out any spinal injuries caused by the crash.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said it believed a tyre on the driver's side had burst, causing the car to lose control and flip over.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, police were called to a crash on the A405 North Orbital Road, near the Thistle Hotel.

Traffic backed up to the Park Street roundabout as police recovered a maroon Vauxhall Astra and an HGV with Lithuanian number plates from the scene.

It is unclear what caused the crash, but both vehicles ended up on the roundabout on the south west side of Noke Road.

The Astra car was severely damaged in the incident, which happened at 7.51am. No-one was injured.

Last Wednesday afternoon, St Albans firefighters were called to a car crash in Shenley Lane, London Colney (see picture).

The crews found an overturned red car at the junction with Kings Road.

The young male driver managed to free himself from the vehicle and was treated by paramedics for a cut to his arm.

The vehicle had been in collision with a fence and a parked car.

aknight@london.newsquest.co.uk