TWO men who rescued three people from the burning wreckage of a light aircraft which crashed on the A40 dual carriageway between Raglan and Abergavenny have been shortlisted for a bravery award.

Former army bomb disposal officer Joel Snarr and shop manager Daniel Nicholson ran towards the burning wreck of the light aircraft after it crash landed on the road in May.

Mr Nicholson smashed the windows and dragged two people to safety while Mr Snarr arrived on the scene from the other side of the carriageway and rescued a third. They have reached the final ten selection stage in the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons 2019 Service To Their Country category.

They were shortlisted from 50 nominations chosen by the public.

Four finalists will be selected in each category and the winner will be announced at an awards event at the Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, London, on Tuesday 15th October.

The judging panel is chaired by Falklands War hero Simon Weston.

The awards celebrate achievements of exceptional people and animals from all walks of life, of all ages and from all over the UK.

They were created in honour of Amplifon founder Second World War hero Major Charles Holland.

They recognise members of the pubic, community and charity champions and members of the armed forces and emergency services who have shown remarkable courage.

The A40 crash made national news.

It was the second time in three years that a light aircraft had crashed on the same stretch of road.

The plane was thought to have hit overhead wiring. The plane’s three occupants were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Mr Nicolson told the BBC the light aircraft was upside down and at first he could see only two people inside, who were screaming as the plane was on fire.

“We were worried we weren’t going to be able to get them out,” he said.

Mr Scarr said he saw the plane ‘appear out of nowhere’ and ‘burst into smoke and some flames’.

“It was a miracle no-one else was on the road,” he said.

Nineteen firefighters attended the scene and used foam to extinguish the flames.