Watch: Dashcam footage captures Mini's near miss with van on Shropshire country road

Marcus Watkin captured the moment when a Mini overtook him and almost ploughed into a transit van turning right on camera.

The dash cam footage, taken this week, has been viewed more than 30,000 on social media and Mr Watkin hopes it will strike a chord and make drivers think twice before overtaking.

The near miss took place on the A495 Whittington to Ellesmere road, close to the spot where three young people died in an horrific accident in 2008.

Road markings and signs were put in place on the road after a series of accidents within a couple of years.

Mr Watkin, himself the victim of a crash, filmed the latest incident on Wednesday as he was driving from Oswestry to his home at Fauls Green near Whitchurch in his, specially adapted, Mercedes Sprinter van.

"I was minding my own business on way back from Oswestry when I was witness to a guy who thought he was on the Italian Job film set," he said.

"I could see the mini coming up behind me just as the van in front of him indicated to turn right. I had already slowed down because the van driver was indicating.

"The driver of the mini obviously couldn't see the van indicating and shot past me. Good job I checked my mirrors when I was braking, as I spotted him starting to overtake. I was able to brake and he managed to pull in in front of me a split second before a collision. He reacted very well to be fair to him.

"I almost lost my life because of careless driving in July 2002. This footage just shows how important it is to think twice before you carry out a manoeuvre. It could have been a motorbike our a cyclist turning right. The driver was incredibly lucky not to have crashed."

Mr Watkin was left paralysed when an elderly driver veered across the road in front of him on the A483 between Welshpool and Oswestry, the collision sending him flying 100 yards past the accident. He was airlifted to hospital with such serious injuries his wife was told to expect the worst.

He spent six weeks in a coma and several months in the spinal injuries unit at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital near Oswestry before he could go home to his wife and children.

So grateful was he for paramedics from the Air Ambulance saving his life he now volunteers as a fundraiser for the charity and is also involved in several organisers that support those with disabilities.