A caravan holiday almost turned into tragedy for an elderly couple from Wolverhampton and their beloved boxer dog.

George O’Brien and his wife Brenda were heading along the A458 between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion in Wales, when their dark blue Mercedes caught fire.

The married couple from Fordhouses and their dog Lady escaped from the vehicle only moments before it “went up like a volcano.”

Two fire engines were called to put the blaze out, but the 2003 Mercedes was completely destroyed by the flames.

Mr O’Brien is still shaken up by the terrifying episode and was suffering from panic attacks.

The 79-year-old said of the frightening drama last Wednesday: “We were just driving along and then I noticed small flames flickering by my feet.

“I tried to put them out with my fingers but they got bigger so we stopped the car and got out.

“We were worried about our dog who was in the back but we managed to get her out too.”

Mr O’Brien and his wife, aged 73, of Milldale Crescent, managed to pull their frightened 10-year-old boxer Lady to the safety of the road side.

Police officers who attended the scene contacted the couple’s son Kevin, 45, who took them back to their home in Wolverhampton.