Onlookers watched on in horror as a car burst into flames as it travelled down a road , with the driver initially oblivious to the danger.
The incident happened in Stanbridge Road, Leighton where witnesses said the driver was alerted to the fire by a man in a van who stopped the black BMW to warn him.
Flames had began flaring under the bonnet when the engine suddenly caught fire just minutes after the driver had filled up his car with diesel.
Firefighters were forced to use foam to extinguish the blaze that was being fuelled by the full tank of diesel.
The driver was unharmed as he managed to get out of the car before the fire worsened.
A witness to the incident who asked to be named only as ‘Maisie’, said the incident took place at around 2.30pm on Tuesday. She congratulated the fire service on their actions while tackling the blaze.
The 18-year-old said: “I was walking home from work when I saw the smoke from down the bottom of the road.
“The man was driving up the road really slow with flames pouring from under his car. He was unaware his car was on fire until a van pulled him over and told him and after a few minutes the fire services turned up.
“The firemen were great, they were so calm in such a stressful situation and it was all thanks to them that no injuries occurred.
“Even new cars aren’t as reliable as people think.”
Stanbridge Road was closed as emergency services tackled the blaze, but was reopened later that day.
@LBOamanda