A DRIVER says he was lucky to avoid crashing his car after his seatbelt exploded without warning.

Andrew Dixon, aged 42, of Woodhouse Close, Birchwood was driving on Warrington Road at 1.30am on December 22 when he was suddenly slammed back into his seat.

He said: “There was a massive explosion, I hadn’t a clue what happened.

“At first I thought I’d hit something but then I realised it was the seatbelts that had exploded.

“I had chest pains straight away and there was smoke in the car.

“It smelt like a firework.

“It was a real shock, I honestly thought I’d hit a brick wall.

“I know that in an accident your seatbelts are supposed to detonate but not when you are driving at 40mph in a straight line.”

Mr Dixon drives a 2003 - 2004 Peugeot 307 cc.

The Vehicle and Services Operating Agency decided last year not to recall the model after receiving similar reports.

VOSA says the issue is not a safety defect, but Mr Dixon, who has been left with bruising and whiplash, disagrees.

He said: “I think these cars should be recalled for it to just happen like that.

“If I was on the motorway it could have been a disaster.”

Peugeot says it is investigating the incident.