STAFF at a Southampton shop have described the dramatic moment a car parked just inches from the front window burst into flames.

Gasworks in Shirley Road, Shirley, suffered heat and smoke damage after a TVR belonging to a visitor to the shop turned into a fireball.

The driver managed to scramble out of the vehicle as the flames took hold and threatened to spread to the shop.

Manager Steve Nathan grabbed an extinguisher and tried to fight the fire as well as ensuring everyone else stayed clear of the blazing car.

But the 40-year father of three was unable to douse the blaze, which sent flames shooting at least 12 feet into the air.

He said: "A man parked outside the shop and was in here for about 10-15 minutes. After he got back into the car and turned the ignition smoke started coming out of the engine compartment and the vehicle burst into flames.

"I ran outside to make sure the driver was OK and was well away from the vehicle.

"I dashed back into the shop and grabbed a powder fire extinguisher. It smothered the flames but there must have been a fuel leak because it flared up again."

Mr Nathan was working with a female colleague when the drama occurred outside the shop, which is owned by a heating and plumbing chain.

"The car was only about two inches from our window and the heat actually cracked the glass," he said.

"Luckily the fire brigade were here within about five minutes and dealt with the incident very efficiently - afterwards they seemed to have gone almost as quickly as they arrived.

"If they hadn't got here as swiftly as they did I think the fire might have spread to our building. I can't praise them enough.

"The owner of the car was unhurt but was obviously shaken up - we all were. I was shaking for ages afterwards."

A temporary road closure was put in place after the blaze broke out shortly after 12 noon yesterday but one lane re-opened shortly afterwards.

A Hampshire and Fire Rescue Service spokesman said two crews from St Mary's fire station dealt with the incident, which occurred near the junction of Shirley Road and Newlands Avenue.

The damaged window was later boarded-up. The car was a write-off.