A FORMER vicar and best-selling author believes the Devil is trying to kill him after a bizarre succession of events almost cost him his life.

Graham Taylor, whose Shadowmancer novels have been likened to the Harry Potter books, believes God protected him when the Devil tried to take his life three times.

The former clergyman, who lives in Scarborough, said he was lucky to be alive after:

* A car wheel flew off at 40mph yards from the edge of a deep gorge

* A low-loader carrying his vehicle burst into flames

* The gear linkage of a second low loader failed at speed.

He dismissed suggestions that "bloggers" who have threatened him on the internet were to blame.

Mr Taylor said: "I think that someone wanted to steal the tyre but got disturbed and didn't do the job.

"I don't believe it was bloggers who were trying to kill me. I believe the Devil was trying to kill me."

The 44-year-old writer praised his driver, Sarah Hill, who controlled the car after a wheel flew off as they drove from an appointment in Bristol.

Mr Taylor said four of the five wheel nuts had been removed and the remaining one had sheared with the stress.

Mr Taylor began to suspect dark forces were at work when a transporter that retrieved the car burst into flames as it crossed the Avon bridge and then a second low-loader's gear linkage snapped.

Mr Taylor said: "I am not one to look for supernatural powers, but three times in one day when we could have been killed started me thinking what is at work here, and I prayed."

The Christian themes of Mr Taylor's fantasy novels have led to death threats on the internet and by email.

* Mr Taylor joined MP Ann Widdecombe on the Heaven and Earth faith programme on the BBC yesterday to urge Christians to take part in a Wear Your Cross Day, on Friday.

The move came after a British Airways worker was told to conceal her cross while at work.