Woman's lucky escape as her Peugeot car was engulfed by a fireball in Windermere

A 'massive bang' alarmed musician Fiona Hanlon, of Grange-over-Sands, as she was driving through Windermere on Thursday night.

She pulled into a nearby car park and called 999 as black smoke began to billow from her Peugeot.

But within two minutes the car had been engulfed in flames, leaving its stunned owner relieved at her lucky escape.

Fiona was left shaken but unharmed by the experience.

BURNT: The car was turned into a inferno in two minutes

She said: “There was no indication of what would happen.

"I just heard a loud bang and suddenly smoke appeared.

“I was making my way home from Bowness and I was driving behind a slow-moving car so I wasn’t doing much speed at all really.

“As I went up a hill, I put my foot down and there was a massive bang.

"The car shuddered and then something rattled from the back.

SAFE: Fiona Hanlon was unharmed after the incident

"Smoke began coming out of the back and from under the bonnet.

“I pulled off the road about 200 metres after the first bang and managed to pull into an empty car park on Newby Bridge Road.

“This car park is usually packed but thankfully it was empty.

“I got out of the car and tried to call for help.

“As I took my belongings out and laid them next to the car, a couple from New Zealand guided me further away.

FIRE: Car bursts into flames after engine failure

"Moments later the car was on fire and where I had been stood was close to the flames.

“It all happened in less than two minutes."

Fiona said the car was less than two years old and appeared to suffer a 'catastrophic engine failure'.

She thanked the car dealership who sold her the car, who she said had been very helpful since the incident.

“The car was fully serviced and is only 18 months old," she said.

DANGER: Fiona Hanlon saw smoke billowing out of her car moments before it caught fire

“The fireman told me that a piece of the engine called a connecting rod had blown out of the engine and had pierced the oil and fuel which made the car catch fire so quickly.

“It was a very rare and catastrophic engine failure they called it.

"The dealer I got the car from has been really good to me.

"They said they would make sure I was taken care of and have already arranged a replacement.”