A cabbie has told how he feared for his passengers' lives when his taxi overturned.

Glen Burvill, 45, was driving along Brighton seafront at 2.40am on Saturday when he clipped an unlit island near Lewes Crescent.

His six-seater Peugeot 807 flipped over and skidded before coming to rest in Marine Parade.

The married father-of-two, who works for Premier Taxis in Saltdean, was taking a young couple from the Thistle Hotel in Kings Road to Peacehaven.

Mr Burvill, of Abbey Close, Peacehaven, said: "I didn't see the island because it wasn't lit.

"My car's tyre burst then we flipped over.

"All I can remember is the girl in the back screaming.

"People say time slows down and it really did.

"We must have slid for ten yards but it seemed to go on forever.

"I would like to thank the woman taxi driver in a green and white cab who helped us and checked to see if we were alright.

"My car was written off but it is only metal and can be replaced.

"I was just thinking about the safety of my passengers."

Mr Burvill was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and was discharged at 5am.

He went back to the crash scene and took pictures of the island, which was not lit up.

His passengers refused to go to hospital and called a family member to take them home.

Mr Burvill, who has been given two weeks off work after the accident, added: "My car was written off and I'm finding it very difficult to sleep."

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: "The old style traffic islands, which should be lit, are gradually being replaced by new islands which are highly reflective when headlights catch them.

"We don't know if the island in question was old or new but it's true that the old ones may run out of bulbs from time to time."

Were you the taxi driver who helped out at the scene? Call Naomi Loomes on 01273 544519 or leave your comments below.