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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Neil Shaw

Limo sent to take children to prom burst into flames

Students on the way to their school prom had an eventful start to their evening after a stretch limousine they had hired out burst into flames by the roadside.

Firefighters were called to extinguish the blaze after the Hummer limo caught fire as it was about to take a group of teenagers to their end of year event in Birmingham.

Shocking photographs show the burnt-out shell of the charred vehicle following the blaze, which was sparked by an electrical fault.

Other images show pupils from Shenley Academy posing in their suits and frocks alongside firefighters in the "one prom night photo they weren't expecting".

West Midlands Fire Service said they received several 999 calls alerting them to the fire on Wychbury Road, in the the Bartley Green area of the city, on Thursday evening (7/7).

Firefighters from Northfield station attended wearing breathing apparatus and took 20 minutes to put out the blaze.

The service said no-one was in the vehicle at the time and students were left "safe and en route" to the bash at their school in Weoley Castle, Birmingham.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "The school prom didn’t start quite as planned for a group of students, when their stretch limo turned up then burst into flames.

"We received several 999 calls to Wychbury Road in Bartley Green, Birmingham at 5.50pm on Thursday 7 July.

"Luckily, no-one was in the vehicle or hurt.

"Firefighters from Northfield fire station wore breathing apparatus and used two hose reel jets to safely extinguish the fire in 20 minutes.

"It’s believed to have started because of an electrical fault.

"We’re pleased to say that the students still managed to get to their event of the year, at Shenley Academy."

Northfield fire station, which shared the images of the blaze, tweeted: "Watch out to a Hummer Limousine on fire powered by LPG.

"One prom photo the group wasn’t expecting tonight but all safe and on route to prom with @ShenleyOfficial."

After one woman thanked the crews for being "great with the kids" they replied: "One memorable prom picture! Hope everyone had an amazing night."

Another parent added: "They won't forget their prom in a hurry. At least it didn't happen while they were inside. It could have been much worse."

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