A CAR caught fire in a public footpath in WGC this afternoon (Friday).

The blaze started at 3.15pm, in a footpath joining Handside Lane and The Old Drive.

Firefighters from WGC used hose reels to put out the fire, which was “well alight” by the time the crew arrived.

Brian Welsh, crew commander of White Watch, which dealt with the blaze, said smoke could be seen from Stanborough Road on the approach to the scene.

“At first, we couldn’t see down the footpath because of the smoke. We didn’t know whether it was a garage on fire or a car,” he said.

Eventually, the fire was put out. The car, a Fiat, was gutted.

A Handside Lane resident said: “I was in my house when I heard this huge explosion.

“I have to say the fire brigade got here very quickly as they were already at the scene when I got outside.

“There was a big cloud of black smoke and it looked a bit like the Buncefield fire of a few years back.”