AN Oxfordshire couple have spoken of their narrow escape after being caught up in the Italian bridge collapse which killed at least 39 people.

Nicola and Lisa Henton-Mitchell, from Bicester, were among the drivers forced to flee for their lives when the bridge in the northwest Italian city of Genoa gave way yesterday.

The Bicester couple and their two children were just 200m from the bridge when disaster struck with one of the supporting towers crashing down during torrential rain.

They later posted on Facebook about being caught up in the collapse.

Lisa described the family having to flee from their rented car leaving almost all their belongings - including one of the children's shoes.

Pictures also posted by the family show them among the crowds taking cover in a nearby tunnel having run to safety away from the area which collapsed.

The family were then taken by police escort in a coach to a local community centre.

She posted online to say the family had since found a hotel to stay and managed to get food and clothes from the supermarket.

Lisa added: "Don't know how long we be here, feel abandoned, as police speak little English."

Oxford Mail:

picture by Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP

She also posted online her thanks to others who were caught up in the drama, commenting: "What a day, still can't believe it.

"We are waiting news on our car so not sure how long we be in Genoa, they are still trying to rescue people from the rubble which is more important.

"We are all doing well though. Thank you everyone especially Mutual a lovely lady and hubby helped translate, gave us her power cable to use and Belgium lady in the tunnel giving the kids her clothes from her suitcase so they could have a dry top half.

"There were also a couple of men who translated for us...they were all truly lovely, kind people."