A HEROIC lollipop lady put herself in danger of direct traffic after a car burst into flames near a village primary school.

Chris Everett was on her morning patrol outside Tiptree Health Primary School, in Maldon Road, when the flaming vehicle appeared in the road.

Acting on instinct she attempted to flag the vehicle down before stepping into the road to direct traffic whilst waiting for the fire service.

Ms Everett, 55, said: “I saw a car come around the corner from the Maldon direction and there was a lot of smoke.

“Then I saw flames were coming out the back of it so I put my stick out and tried to flag the driver down.

“The woman carried on driving down the road to the corner before pulling over.

“I shouted to get away from the fire and said the car was going to blow.”

The Essex County Council employee was then shocked when the driver of the vehicle got out and walked around to the back of her car.

Ms Everett said: “It was quite scary because she got out of the car and went straight to the boot to get her handbag out.

“If that was me I would have been out of there. I do not think she realised how bad it was.

“As far as I could tell the fuel tank didn’t explode but the whole car was alight.”

Steve Mason snapped this video of the burning car

A resident called the fire service and whilst crews were en route Ms Everett took control, directing traffic and warning drivers.

“I only did what I thought was right to try and avoid congestion in the area so the fire brigade could get here,” she said.

“I thought with my high vis jacket and my stop sign I was well positioned to help.

“The driver was not hurt and she went into a house nearby where I think some residents gave her a cup of tea.

“The fire service arrived within five minutes, they were brilliant.”

Essex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed crews were called to the scene at 8.58am on Friday. Firefighters used a water hose to extinguish the fire by 9.10am.