BOLTON’S biggest shopping centre was evacuated after a car burst into flames in the car park.

A terrified family had to flee before the blaze engulfed their car on level one of the multi-storey at the Market Place.

Witnesses reported hearing two bangs and glass shattering when the fire broke out at about 2pm yesterday.

The centre had to be evacuated and the car park closed, with about 60 people forced to wait outside in the rain while firefighters tackled the blaze for about 30 minutes.

Firefighters said the fire started as the family were parking their Vauxhall Zafira.

Watch manager Mike Parton, from Bolton Central fire station, said: “The car developed a fault as the driver was parking up.

“She emptied the car of the kids — there were two adults and two young kids inside — and went to raise the alarm.”

The car was destroyed in the fire and the whole level of the car park was filled with smoke.

Shopper Linda Gee, aged 55, from Kearsley, was one of many to be evacuated.

She said: “We were just coming down the escalator when I heard the fire alarm.

“I heard this bang and then another bang and the sound of glass shattering.

“You could see the smoke coming out the side of the car park and people in their cars were trying to get out but the barrier was down, so a security guard came and lifted it up.

“One car drove out the wrong way through the exit.”

Malcolm Makin, aged 42, from Farnworth, said: “We’d parked the car in there and went to Crompton Place to do some shopping, but then my stepson heard over BBM (Blackberry Messenger) that there was a fire here so we came back to look.”

A spokesman for the centre said: “An incident occurred on the first floor of the car park and the centre was immediately and safely evacuated.”

Police are investigating the incident, but there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.

Shoppers were allowed back into the Market Place after about 30 minutes and car park was also reopened.