THIS dramatic picture shows the moment a car turned into a fireball in Exeter.
Stunned onlookers watched as the blaze completely engulfed the vehicle in Mount Pleasant Road on Tuesday afternoon.
The car, a red Citroen C5 registered to a female from Exeter city centre, was well alight when firefighters rushed to the scene and smoke could be seen billowing across a large part of the city.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation by the fire service, although police have ruled out arson.
Officers sealed off the road while the fire was put out and the car was eventually removed after it had cooled down about an hour later.
However, the road between Thurlow Road and Pinhoe Road junctions remained closed after it had been left scorched by the blaze, and was not due to re-open until yesterday afternoon at the earliest.
One eye witness said: "I saw the whole thing from the window in my bedsit overlooking the fire.
"It started off with smoke and very quickly fire completely covered the car. Lots of people saw it.
"There was thick black smoke blowing everywhere. The fire crew arrived quickly and soon put the fire out but there was a lot of smoke."
A spokesman for the fire service said it received several calls about the fire that broke out around 4.20pm. The car was well alight on arrival but was put up by 4.30pm. It was recovered by 5.35pm.
Police also said there were "significant" traffic problems as a result. A spokesman said there was no active investigation, ruling out arson as a possible cause.
A spokesman for the ambulance service confirmed it attended but no one needed medical treatment.
