A MOTORIST'S car caught alight after he smelled smoke while driving along.

The man was travelling in his Ford Focus when he noticed the disturbing smell at around 9am on Saturday.

He pulled over in Alexandra Road, Stoneclough, and dialled 999.

However his hatchback was quickly engulfed in flames and was well ablaze even by the time the fire crew from Farnworth Fire Station arrived.

They spent an hour tackling the blaze but the vehicle had been totally destroyed by the fire.

The victim was visiting the area from out of town.