A car dramatically burst into flames after smoke was seen coming from the bonnet in south Manchester this afternoon. Pictures and video shared with the Manchester Evening News show a black BMW car engulfed in flames after it had pulled into a nursery on Beech Range, off Albert Road, Levenshulme.
The fire service were called to the incident at around 2.15pm and managed to contain the fire to the car. However, the vehicle was completely destroyed by the blaze.
Eyewitnesses told the MEN how the car had originally been driving along Albert Road when the driver noticed smoke coming from the bonnet. They pulled into the Littleways Day Nursery car park to take a look at the cause but a fire quickly spread.
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Only one fire engine was needed to control the blaze, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue said, who were in attendance for around an hour. Albert Road had to be closed for a short time to deal with the blaze.
Elizabeth Minchener saw the blaze took hold of the car. She told the MEN: "A BMW driver noticed smoke coming from his bonnet while driving and pulled in at Littleways Nursery to investigate the issue. Soon after, his car ignited.
"Neighbours tried to help out by stopping oncoming traffic and providing fire extinguishers from their homes, but they couldn’t stop the car from being engulfed in flames. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Team arrived just in time before the car was thought to explode and managed to put the flames out before any neighbouring properties caught fire."
A spokesman from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: "At around 2:15pm this afternoon (Tuesday August 23), firefighters were called to reports of a vehicle on fire on Albert Road in Levenshulme.
"One fire engine from Gorton quickly attended the scene, and the crew used two hose reels and a breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire and make the area safe. Firefighters were in attendance for around one hour."
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