Driver's Life Flashes Before Eyes

But despite the accident taking place on a stretch of pavement normally busy with pedestrians, there were no deaths.

Mr Bailey said: "I was coming up the road when the back tire gave out. The car just screwed out into the road and into the path of oncoming traffic.

"I tried to regain control of the vehicle but it just went flat over and ended up on its roof.

"I was thinking 'the bloody tire.' Your life just flashes before your eyes. It was terrifying but all over in seconds."

Mr Bailey, 41, said he was travelling with his wife Gretel when the incident took place at about 12.30pm. They were both taken to Ealing Hospital.

He added his wife will have to have a neck x-ray but hopefully she is not seriously hurt.

Joan Carroll, landlady at the Red Lion, said she was by the pool table inside the pub when the incident took place.

She said: "I heard a huge bang outside. It sounded like a bomb had gone off. I had a look out the front and I couldn't believe what had happened. The car was just upside down.

"It was an absolute miracle that no-one killed. One of our plant holders outside was smashed and people are temporarily having to use a side door, but that's as bad as it got. I'm just relieved as it could have been so much worse."

A spokesman for Ealing Police said no-one had been charged over the incident.