A SUFFOLK woman has received a top award after she helped to save the life of a man who had been attacked by a gang wielding a chainsaw.Vicki Bingham was driving along a quiet country lane when she saw a van engulfed in a fireball and the driver lying on the ground with his legs almost cut through by a chainsaw.

A SUFFOLK woman has received a top award after she helped to save the life of a man who had been attacked by a gang wielding a chainsaw.

Vicki Bingham was driving along a quiet country lane when she saw a van engulfed in a fireball and the driver lying on the ground with his legs almost cut through by a chainsaw.

The rescue took place in West Oxfordshire and Mrs Bingham, of Sudbourne, near Woodbridge, has now received a commendation from Sara Thornton, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.

Andy Murray, a police superintendent who investigated the attack, said the driver could have died if Mrs Bingham had not stopped to help him.

The drama occurred when Mrs Bingham, who works for Cherry Tarts caterers in Badingham, was driving to visit her father, Peter Pennant-Rea, in Burford.

Mrs Bingham, 65, said: “I saw in the distance a huge conflagration. A van was on fire and then I saw a man crawling along the road.

“As I got close I could see his legs were almost cut through, blood was pouring out and he was screaming in agony.

“It was a horrendous sight - the kind of thing you would see in a horror movie. He was waving his mobile phone in the air, he had called 999 and I started talking to the emergency services.”

“I have first aid experience and I got a rug out of the car and wrapped it round his legs to stem the flow of blood.”

The 40-year-old driver told police two men had demanded money and then attacked him with a chainsaw and burned his van when he refused to give them anything. The two attackers have not been caught.