A British tourist accused of starting a killer grass fire was helped to escape the flames by forest rangers, a court heard today.

Anthony Cooper, who allegedly sparked the blaze on South Africa's Table Mountain with a discarded cigarette, could not start his car and was pushed to safety by the men before they turned to tackle the flames, his trial was told.

Meanwhile, the fire spread so quickly that there was no chance of stopping it.

It trapped and killed another British tourist, 65-year-old Janet Chesworth from Sedgely in the West Midlands.

Cooper, 37, from Brighton, denies culpable homicide and breaking the National Forestry Act.

Cape Town Regional Court heard today from a taxi driver who said he saw Cooper throw his burning cigarette end on to dry grass.

Jack Furter said he had been parked near a cable car station with colleague Craig Ward, in two separate vehicles.

He said he and Mr Ward were sitting together in his vehicle when he noticed Cooper coming down the slopes of the mountain.

Cooper's car, a VW Beetle, had been parked behind their two cars.

Mr Furter said Cooper passed them as he made his way to the Beetle.

He said he and Mr Ward got out and went to the rear of Mr Furter's car to get a flask of coffee.

Mr Furter said: "As Cooper closed the boot of his car I saw him toss a burning cigarette butt onto the grass."

Mr Furter said a strong wind was blowing, and within seconds the grass was on fire.

He said Cooper drove off with friends after being helped to start his car by the rangers. But he managed to note the registration number.

Asked if he and Mr Ward had tried to extinguish the burning grass, Mr Furter replied: "There was no chance of anyone trying to put out the fire."

Questioned by Cooper's lawyers, Mr Furter said it had been his own initiative to alert the rangers about the fire.

Four or five rangers had reacted, and first helped Mr Cooper to push start his car, before they tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire.

Mr Furter said Mr Ward's version of the incident - that Cooper had "flicked something out of the window", whilst seated in the car - was incorrect.

Mr Furter insisted that his own version was correct, that Cooper had tossed the burning cigarette on to the grass whilst closing the boot of the car.

The hearing continues on December 10.