Car blaze drama on busy A5

Clouds of black smoke blanketed one of Staffordshire busiest roads after a car blaze.

Firefighters dashed to the scene on the A5 in Bridgtown, near Cannock, yesterday to a car fire on a driveway.

The car was completely burned out and the flames spread to the front of a terraced house in Watling Street.

The front window of the house was also damaged by fire and smoke.

Two crews from Cannock Fire Station attended the scene, using two hose jets and breathing apparatus.

Heather Garner, a spokesman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It was accidentally started.

"The owner said that he has been having problems with the car and that it was probably some kind of electrical fault with it."

They received the call at 2.08pm and left the scene at 2.56pm. Adrian Scotson, who has lived on the A5 for 15 years, said: "I came out of my house and saw the flames and I ran back inside to get my camera.

"I got back outside and I could see these huge big black clouds of smoke across the road and you could smell the burning rubber."

Mr Scotson, aged 46, added: "The smoke covered the whole area. I didn't see anyone who was hurt and there were no ambulances."