Four Colchester United players had a lucky escape after their car ended up sandwiched between two lorries in a crash on the M25.

The players team up for their journeys to training from their homes in Surrey and Kent and take turns in driving.

Yesterday morning it was the turn of goalkeeper Andy Woodman, whose quick thinking when he drove the car into the central reservation out of the way of another lorry behind them has been praised.

The Ford Ka car they were travelling in has been badly damaged and Mr Woodman said he thinks it will be written off after the accident just past the Dartford Tunnel on their way to Colchester.

Midfielder Bobby Bowry, 30, said: "We were very lucky. The driver acted in the right way and moved. If we had braked I don't think we would be here talking now. It's a bit harrowing."

He said Mr Woodman's quick thinking to move them out of the way avoided a worst collision, with the car sandwiched between the two lorries.

The pair plus defender Scott Fitzgerald, 32, all travel to training from Surrey and pick up defender 21-year-old Anthony Allman, who lives in Kent, near Dartford.

The U's assistant manager Geraint Williams said: "The lads had a very lucky escape but thankfully all three of them escaped unharmed."

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Published Wednesday December 19, 2001