A CAR which had broken down on the A130 burst into flames moments after firefighters arrived.

Police had decided to check on the stranded BMW after spotting smoke coming from it on the southbound carriageway yesterday.

Officers decided to contact the fire service and the car duly went up in flames moments after a crew arrived.

Members of Essex Police’s Operational Support Group tweeted: “We were travelling on the A130 earlier today when we came across this broken down vehicle.

“It was smoking heavily and a smell of burning.

“A quick call to Essex Fire Service who had a crew from Rochford on the A130 already. As they arrived the car caught fire - great timing.”

A spokesman for the fire service said the blaze was extinguished within 20 minutes.

He added: “We were called to a car fire on the southbound A130 close to the Downhouse Bridge yesterday at 4.16pm.

“On-call firefighters from Rochford were in the area and able to respond.

“They extinguished the fire by 4.35pm.”