A MOTORIST who collapsed at the wheel of his car which crashed into a house, was given the kiss of life by a passing taxi driver.

It is believed that security guard John Maloney suffered a seizure at the wheel of his van before colliding with the house on Milnethorpe Road, Breightmet, just after 2pm yesterday.

Mr Maloney who was with his finacee Maggie Simmons, 56, was rescued from his car by two taxi drivers who were praised by paramedics. The crew could find no pulse when they arrived but they managed to revive him. The couple of Crossdale Road, Breightmet, who are due to be married next month, were taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Last night Mr Maloney was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Rochdale's Birch Hill Hospital. His condition was described as "stable" this morning.

Ms Simmons has since been discharged from hospital.

Friend Carol Brown, of Deepdale Road, described them as a "lovely couple" and said they were due to be married next month.

Mrs Brown, was last night caring for the couple's Yorkshire Terrier which was with them in the van at the time of the accident.

"John originally comes from Manchester and they are both very nice people," said Carol. "We just hope they will both be all right." Mr Maloney' was driving along Breightmet Fold Lane when he he lost control and drove across a busy junction before colliding with the front Rita Grimshaw's, Milnethorpe Road, council home.

Mrs Grimshaw said: "I had not been in very long and had just sat down to watch television when I heard this enormous bang. It shook the house and when I went to the window I could see the van at the front of the house and the driver slumped over the wheel."

Taxi drivers Pete Williams, 43, and Dave Fletcher, 50, who were parked nearby were first on the scene and rushed to the aid of the stricken pair.

Pete, who learned first aid during his 14 years with the Queens Lancashire Regiment, said: "The woman was conscious but the driver looked in a bad way. "He wasn't breathing and had gone grey. We did not know whether to move him because he may have had spinal injuries but I couldn't find a pulse so we had to get him out.

"I tried to resuscitate him but it didn't seem to be working."

Dave added: "By this time the paramedics had arrived and they tried to resuscitate him using the electric shock machine, they tried a few times and then they got something. They told us he was trying to breathe and they took both of them to hospital."