AN X Factor singer is thanking her lucky stars after surviving a fireball explosion in her car.
The motorway mayhem nearly claimed the life of talented singer Christine Sandford as she returned to Grimsby from her successful auditions in Manchester.
The 49-year-old widow had just blown judges away with her recital of Bonnie Tyler's classic It's A Heartache.
She also sang Helen Shapiro's Walking Back To Happiness – and nearly found herself walking back to Grimsby had it not been for a Good Samaritan.
While scores of motorists drove past – some even slowing down to film her and her blazing car – a fellow X Factor hopeful, Grimsby's Rachel Bratley, heard Christine's cries for help and stopped to rescue her.
Rachel, better known to audiences in North East Lincolnshire as singer Rachel B, raced to help Christine after the Citroen C5 she had borrowed to get her to the auditions burst into flames on the hard shoulder of the M62 near Ferrybridge.
Christine, of Duke Street, Grimsby, escaped with just a few scratches and bruises.
West Yorkshire fire crews put out the blazing car and Christine was taken home by Rachel and her partner, Iain Legg.
Having survived her ordeal, Christine is looking forward to performing her signature tune, It's A Heartache, in front of the panel of X Factor judges.
She hopes to sing her heart out when she faces the panel, who are expected to include Sharon Osbourne, Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger, this summer.
Christine said she had gained the inspiration to enter the 2013 contest after the death of her husband Peter, 73, last year.
Since her car drama, Christine has lost her job as a carer, so needs her singing talent to give her a big break.
"I decided there is only one life, so I am living it," she said.
"I enjoy singing around the house, in the bath and on the loo."
Christine is well-known to Grimsby Telegraph Pub Idol audiences, having entered the competition in 2009 and in 2011.
She has sung in many of the old folks homes in North East Lincolnshire.
But the X Factor auditions at Old Trafford, Manchester, were her biggest performances to date. She was among more than 1,000 contenders.
She said: "It was an awesome couple of days. But then it turned into a shocker.
"The car started billowing smoke, so I pulled over. Just as I got out flames shot out of the bonnet. I could not believe it. The whole car was engulfed in flames. It was like someone had put a bomb under the bonnet. It was like a war zone.
"People were driving past and some people slowed down to film it on their cameras but didn't stop.
"Rachel and her partner were the first to stop. I want to say a big thank you to them. I am still feeling shaky from it all."
The Grimsby Telegraph reunited the pair back at home.
Rachel said: "It was really bad. The car was in a terrible state. I have never seen a car in that way before.
"The engine had blown up. Christine was shocked, and was lucky to be alive.
"We did what we could to calm her down and gave her water and some support.
"A lot of people were driving past; it's terrible that people go by even though there is someone clearly in distress. What is the world coming to when people don't care?
"It does not matter who it is. It looked like there had been an accident.
"I recognised Christine. We had both been in Pub Idol and then I did not see her again until the X Factor auditions. It was a good day.
"But was a shock to see her stood on the motorway. I guess it was fate. We will all be supporting her through The X Factor."
