Car set on fire in freak accident

A couple had a lucky escape after a freak accident which saw a fuel can fall from a lorry and set their car on fire on a Shropshire road.

The man and woman jumped from their black Audi about 30 seconds before it was completely engulfed in flames on the A456 at Burford, near Tenbury Wells, at about 11.45am yesterday.

Police believe the fire was caused by a fuel can falling from a lorry carrying vintage vehicles which the couple were following at the time.

The contents of the can then caused the side of the car to catch fire.

No-one was injured and the driver of the lorry was traced a short time later.

Firefighters from Tenbury were called to deal with the blaze and the road was blocked for several minutes.

Allanah Ruthen, an eyewitness, said: "A few more seconds and it could have been a very different story.

"The car was engulfed in flames about 30 seconds after the pair got out and it was especially bad on the driver's side."

Maria Wilkinson, for West Mercia Police, said: "A black Audi was travelling behind a lorry carrying vintage vehicles.

"An item, believed to be a fuel can, is understood to have come off the back of the lorry and collided with the car behind."