A car 'ricocheted' across a carriageway before catching fire, causing serious injuries to four passengers.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a car crash that occurred on junction 1 of the M40 near Denham at around 9pm on Thursday, July 6.

The driver of a black BMW lost control and crashed into a nearby barrier, causing the vehicle to “ricochet” across the carriageway into the central barrier.

The car came to a stop in the middle lane before “catastrophic damage” caused fuel and fluids to ignite and the vehicle caught on fire.

The five people travelling in the BMW all escaped before the fire took hold but four sustained serious injuries during the incident.

Two of the people involved have now been discharged from hospital, while the two rear-seat passengers remain there for further treatment.

Thames Valley Police said the car had been travelling from London on the A40 from Greenford and past Northolt towards the M40. It is thought to have been the only vehicle involved in the incident.

Investigating officer PC Alistair Bennett of the Roads Policing Unit based in Amersham said: “I am keen to hear from anybody who may have dash-cam footage of the collision or the moments leading up to it.”

Anybody with dash-cam footage can upload it to Thames Valley Police’s dedicated portal for the incident. Witnesses to the incident can contact police by calling 101 or making a report online, quoting reference number 43230299542.