A family had a lucky escape after their car exploded into flames and melted into the road.

The green Ford Fiesta had stalled on the corner of Duke Street, Whitehaven, before suffering engine trouble and setting on fire at around 4pm.

The family had left the vehicle.

Acting crew manager for Cumbria Fire Service Cheryl Wilson said there were no injuries.

"There was lots of smoke and bangs coming from the engine and then it has caught fire and set the car alight," said ACM Wilson. "We are not sure of the cause of the incident yet and there has been no injuries to any of the four passengers."

Three police cars attended the scene with officers cordoning off the area at the junction adjacent to the Three Tuns pub.

One fire engine used a jet hose to extinguish the blaze.