Shropshire driver's shock after mystery fire destroys her Audi
A Shropshire motorist was left in shock when her car was destroyed in a mystery fire.
Car owner Phoebe Madeley said she was still recovering from the ordeal which happened when she parked her Audi A3 outside a supermarket on December 22.
Gifts intended for family and friends were also wrecked when the Audi A3 went up in smoke and flames at Meole Brace Retail Park, in Shrewsbury, on December 22.
Investigators have been unable to find the cause of the fire and car maker Audi said that due to the damage "no evidence was found that this was the result of a manufacturing defect or component failure".
The 24-year-old nanny, of Rushbury, near Church Stretton, said: "I went to do some shopping after dropping off my friend's seven-month-old twins. When I came outside I saw smoke in the direction of where my car was. As I got closer I realised it was my car that was on fire. It was well alight and all my Christmas shopping was in it.
"I wasn't very impressed with the way Audi UK handled the whole thing. The staff at the Shrewsbury branch were lovely. But I found dealing with the head office very difficult.
"When I rang, the staff kept trying to transfer me to different people. On one occasion after passing me round eight times I got cut off the phone.
"I found it very stressful and I don't want other people to go through the same experience."
In a statement Audi said: "We are very sorry to learn that Miss Madeley was involved in this regrettable incident, and also that her subsequent enquiries to Audi UK Customer Services were not dealt with to her satisfaction.
"We can confirm that we will be reviewing this case with the representatives involved and will take corrective action where necessary. Our technical division has carried out an exhaustive forensic examination of Miss Madeley's car, something which proved especially difficult on this occasion as the car had not been suitably protected from the weather and from other external contaminants. The investigation concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the incident occurred as a result of any manufacturing defect or component failure and the fact that Miss Madeley's car was manufactured in 2012 and has operated normally up to this point appears to bear out this conclusion."
