A man was trapped inside his home after his car burst into flames outside.
The man, who asked not to be named, feared his car might explode after it became engulfed by a blaze on Longmoor Lane in Fazakerley this morning, October 11. He was asleep on his sofa at the time, when he was woken up by the sound of his neighbour banging on the window.
The blaze comes just days after police were called to a report of criminal damage at a property on Longmoor Lane on Thursday, October 6. Police said it was reported that damage was caused to the door of a property, and a suspect left the scene before officers arrived.
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Witnesses told the ECHO a man used a claw hammer to smash the windows of two houses, which have since been boarded up. Merseyside Police said enquiries are ongoing and officers are keeping an open mind over whether the two incidents are linked.
The man, whose car was destroyed by the fire, told the ECHO: "I was asleep and my next door neighbour was just going to work and he saw it. He was banging on the window and he woke me up.
"It was blazing. I couldn't even go out until the fire brigade had put it out because the flames were coming right to my path. I couldn't even go out of the front door in case it exploded."
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at 7.06am on Tuesday, which is just a few minutes away from Aintree Community Fire Station. The road was closed between Long Lane, Hall Lane and Greenwich Road, while fire crews extinguished the blaze.
Firefighters left the scene at 7.54am and the scene was handed over to Merseyside Police. Photos show the extent of damage caused to the car which was just an empty shell.
A neighbour told the ECHO: "I just heard a bang and someone shouting get out and then the living room just lit up so I came out and then the car was already fully ablaze by then.
The whole car was ablaze - it melted most of the car. It was just like a bonfire. The whole car was gutted."
A police spokesperson said: "Enquiries are underway to establish the circumstances. Anyone with information or who witnessed or captured anything on dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage can contact us @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 22000749376."
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