THE driver of a Blakes coach involved in a fatal accident with a motorcyclist on the A39 near Carhampton has been hailed a hero for ensuring his passengers escaped unharmed from the blazing vehicle.

Tragically, biker Adrian Pavey, 46, of Cheddar, died at the scene but eyewitnesses said the death toll could have been much higher had it not been for the decisive actions of the unnamed coach driver.

He had been returning to Minehead after taking a coachload of day-trippers to Totnes for a boat trip along the River Dart.

Almost half of the passengers had already been dropped off but 34 were on board when Sunday's accident happened.

According to police, Mr Pavey was travelling from Minehead when he lost control of his bike on a bend on the outskirts of Carhampton and collided with the coach which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Both the coach and motorcycle burst into flames but all 34 people on the coach were led to safety by the driver and local residents who stepped in to help.

Sue Cook, who lives at nearby Keeper's Cottage, was one of the first on the scene.

"I've lived on this road for ten years and I've seen the death and carnage it can cause, but this was one of the most horrendous things I've ever seen.

"Fortunately, the people on the bus were fairly mobile but if there had been anyone with mobility problems they wouldn't have got them off.

"The driver needs to be praised - he was brilliant, an absolute hero.

"If he hadn't kept calm, people would have panicked and they wouldn't have escaped.

"People were choking as they came off and the ambulance crews were giving oxygen to the elderly."

Ms Cook was one of a number of local residents who came to the aid of the shocked bus passengers and supplied them with tea and coffee, as well as helping to get them away from the scene to the safety of the nearby Chris' Crackers reclamation yard.

Minehead husband and wife Jane and John Miles were among the coach passengers caught up in the accident and said they were deeply grateful to everyone who helped them.

"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the local residents for their kind help and assistance.

"And a special thank you to the owners of Chris' Crackers and Townsend Farm who supplied traumatised passengers with tea," Mr Miles said.

Local taxi firms including Datacabs and Watchet Minibus Hire also came to the rescue and helped ferry the passengers back home when Blakes was unable to get its own vehicles through to the scene.

Coach firm owner David Blake said he had been advised not to comment on the incident when he was contacted by the Free Press this week.

An inquest into Mr Pavey's death was opened and adjourned on Tuesday.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for safety measures to be introduced on the A39 through Carhampton.

Ms Cook said: "I'm a biker myself so I'm not anti-biker, but I live and breathe this road and the authorities need to stop messing about and do something about it.

"I'm not an advocate of speed cameras but we need something here just to slow the traffic down.

"Sunday's accident could easily have resulted in 34 local people losing their lives - there was nothing left of the bus."

Only last month, Bilbrook motorist Jonathan Collier demanded action to improve safety on the A39 after almost being hit head-on by a van.

Although his near miss happened further along the A39 close to Philip Hobbs' racing stables, it adds weight to campaigners' calls for more speed restrictions on the road.

Last year, West Somerset coroner Michael Rose called for speed cameras to be installed on the A39 at Bilbrook following the deaths of Victoria Gould and Jean Turner.

The pair were in different cars, travelling in opposite directions, when Mrs Gould's BMW collided head-on with a car in which great-grandmother Mrs Turner was a passenger.

An inquest found the BMW's excessive speed was the main cause of the accident, but the coroner's plea for a fixed camera was turned down by Somerset's road safety chiefs.

Instead, signs were put up warning of the danger of the accident blackspot and safety chiefs said they hoped to use mobile camera units at the site.

As yet, it is not known what caused Sunday's fatal accident.

A police spokesman said: "A motorcycle travelling away from Minehead was reported to have lost control on a left-hand bend near to Carhampton and was in collision with a coach travelling in the opposite direction.

"The impact caused the petrol tank of the motorcycle to rupture, resulting in both vehicles being set alight.

"All the passengers managed to leave the bus without injury. However, the motorcyclist died."

Two fire engines from Minehead were initially called to the scene and were quickly followed by a third from Williton.

Further appliances from Porlock and Wiveliscombe were sent out and spent over four hours trying to bring the fire under control.

The coach was completely destroyed in the blaze, which was so intense, it also severely damaged the road surface.

The A39 was closed for more than eight hours while police gathered evidence from the scene.

Anyone with information about the accident should contact the police collision investigation unit on 0845 4567000.