“I was scared it was going to explode” – Sudbury car becomes fireball

Car that caught fire in Girling Street, Sudbury - Jeanette Kinnard (Image: Archant)

Just after 12.30pm on Saturday, a driver pulled up at Great Waldingfield Garages, in Girling Street and leapt out.

Smoke was coming from the car and Jeanette Kinnard, who works in sales at the garage, dialled 999 - as did the driver.

“She came around the one-way system and pulling into the car lot, jumped out and came running into me and then flames suddenly came out of the bonnet,” she said.

“I realised it was going to go up. I was scared it was going to explode.”

The burning car was parked next to a white Vauxhall Antara, and Ms Kinnard praised a passer-by who moved it away from danger.

“I think it was a taxi driver from across the road,” she said. “I don’t know who he was.”

She said the cars had been virtually touching: “You couldn’t fit a body between it. It was that close. It was very brave of him.”

She said none of the cars at the garage were damaged as a result of the fire.

However, she criticised the way other drivers slowed to look at the fire.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it received the call at 12.36pm on Saturday and retained crews were on site by 12.46pm.

The fire was extinguished and the appliance was back at the station by 1.05pm. The vehicle was collected later in the day.