A MAN rescued from a smoke-filled car in the early hours of the morning has been described as "lucky to be alive."

Firefighters were called out to the 4 x 4 vehicle in City Road, St Helens at about 2.50am on Friday, July 28.

When they arrived they found the driver slumped at the steering wheel suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

A Fire Brigade spokesman said: "Fortunately the man had slumped over the wheel and his face was near the fresh air intake, so he was breathing in fresh air. If he had fallen elsewhere in the vehicle this could well have been a different story and he wouldn't be alive to tell the tale."

It is thought the gear box had over-heated causing the insulation under the vehicle to burn.

The 38-year-old driver was taken to Whiston Hospital suffering from the severe effects of smoke.