A FAMILY had a “very lucky” escape after a car was ravaged by fire in an Astley Bridge street.

Mohamed Qureshi rushed out of his home in the early hours of Monday morning after hearing a “boom” to find flames engulfing a car outside.

Fire spread from the black Ford Focus ST, which was parked in Beryl Street, to Mr Qureshi’s home a few metres away where he lives with his wife, daughter and son.

Fortunately, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames before the blaze could cause serious damage.

“We were very lucky, only the backyard protected us from the fire,” he said. “At about half one or two in the morning I saw a woman running and shouting, ‘help, help’.

“I heard a noise, a big boom, and I ran straight outside my house. I could see the car, it was burning, and the flames were coming out of it.”

A number of people living in the street have said that they heard a loud bang.

One resident who said he witnessed the immediate aftermath of the incident said: “I woke to a large bang and the sound of an alarm going off.

“My window overlooks the street so I had a look what it was and I saw the car on fire.

“It was large and right next to a house with a family.

“I woke my brother up and he rang the fire station. Firefighters arrived almost immediately.

“While we were waiting, two women who seemed to be drunk pulled up near the car. One of them ran to the car to retrieve something from inside it and sparks flew on to her, so she ran into the street opposite.

"The car is still there but it is burnt to a crisp.”

The Bolton News: Firefighters check a vehicle after the car was engulfed by fireFirefighters check a vehicle after the car was engulfed by fire

The inside of the car was almost completely gutted by the blaze. A lot of the black paintwork was scorched leaving it white, and the windscreen and windows have shattered — with a huge amount of glass still on the ground next to the car.

Registration plates have also been removed and plastic features such as wing mirror casing and windscreen wipers have melted away.

Another man said they noticed the car arrive on the street, while he was visiting his mother on Sunday afternoon, but does not know who the car belongs to.

The Bolton News:

The man added: “I remember yesterday, I came to my mum’s and as I was leaving somebody parked that car a bit further up the street.

“It looked like quite a young gentleman driving it but I’ve never seen him before.

“My mum heard it at about 2.30am. She said it was a big bang.

“It’s a massive shame that it’s happened.

The Bolton News has approached Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for comment.