The veteran DJ donned a high-visibility police jacket and safely guided vehicles past the scene in Leeds on Sunday.

Sir Jimmy, who was thanked by West Yorkshire Police for his efforts, told the Evening News he was travelling to a restaurant with a friend when he came across the incident.

He said: “My second nature made me jump out of my pal’s car and check the drivers were both alright. Then, after just a few minutes the cavalry arrived. There were two fire engines, ambulances and police cars.

“I stayed and started directing traffic because the T-junction was blocking up with cars. After a while a copper came up to me and said ‘Fantastic Jimmy, put this on’, and gave me a high-visibility jacket to wear.”

The 81-year-old star added: “People were shaking their heads as if to say: ‘What next?’ The body fit but the head didn’t belong to the body.”

Sir Jimmy is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and, in the 1970s spearheaded the road safety campaign “Clunk-click every trip” campaign to encourage the use of seat-belts.

He said: “I was born in Yorkshire and still live here. The most important thing in our family was neighbours and that their problems were our problems. It was all part of growing up, which is why for 45 years I have been a volunteer at Leeds General Infirmary.

“When something like this accident happens, 10ft away from you, you can’t get closer neighbours than that.”

Police said five people suffered minor injuries in the accident in Roundhay Road, Oakwood, north Leeds. One person was taken to hospital for treatment.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “When officers arrived at the scene of a road traffic collision a member of the public did present themselves to offer their assistance in directing the traffic.

“He was issued with a high-visibility jacket and helped to safely direct the traffic along the diversion.

“At no point was the member of public placed in any danger and we would like to thank him for his assistance with this matter.”