A POSTMASTER who cheated death in a holiday crash is to help his customers again.

Gary Dobson survived a horrendous car crash on Spain's Costa del Sol last November, but is now preparing to reopen his shop for business.

Oakes post office owner Mr Dobson is returning to work next week, two months after sustaining serious injuries in the smash near the resort of Malaga.

Mr Dobson, 52, was enjoying a fortnight's holiday in Fuengirola with his 80-year-old mother, Joyce Dobson, when they were in a head-on collision with another vehicle on a road bend.

Now, after three weeks spent in traction in a Spanish hospital and many more at his Oakes home recovering, he is ready to welcome customers back.

He said: "There is no doubt it was borderline and I really don't know how we survived it.

"We were both unconscious at the scene, but I managed to shake it off and tried to get out.

"The people milling around the car wouldn't let me out until the emergency services arrived.

"But it wasn't until they tried to get me out of the car that I realised I was so badly injured."

Mr Dobson suffered fractures to his hip, pelvis, ribcage and chest.

He also had a ruptured lung and badly bumped his head.

"How no blood got on to my brain I do not know," he said.

"I must have a tough nut, because it could have easily been as bad as my mother or even worse."

Mrs Dobson had serious head injuries, which caused a bleed on to her brain. "She was critical at first and had to be transferred to a specialist hospital," said Mr Dobson.

"I was very upset about her. My blood pressure the next day was 197, because I was so stressed.

"She is much better now."

Mr Dobson, who was driving an Opel Corsa hire car when the accident happened, admitted he did not know how the smash had occurred.

He said: "The road was still under construction and there was rough stuff everywhere, which was shaking the car to bits.

"The car just went. I don't know if it was my fault entirely or if there was a problem with the car with all the shale on the road," added Mr Dobson.

Now he is looking forward to getting back to work.

From January 25 the post office, on Acre Street, will reopen on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm.

Mr Dobson hopes to be open full time by mid-February.