FIREFIGHTERS are battling a blaze outside the Haddon House Hotel in West Bay

A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: "One crew from Bridport were called to a vehicle on fire outside the Haddon House Hotel at 3:58pm.

"Eleven calls were received about the silver convertible, which was well alight, with the fire spreading to nearby trees.

"The fire was extinguished using two hose reel jets by crews wearing breathing gear."

A bystander described seeing thick black smoke are hearing two loud bangs, and then large flames as the blaze spread to nearby trees.

They said: "An open-top car passed us and there were a couple of bangs, and then flames coming out of the exhaust.

"The driver pulled over and jumped out and then the car just burst into flames.

"There's nothing left of the car, it's just a black shell."

Paul Loud, manager at the Haddon House Hotel said: “The driver, an elderly gentleman, stopped outside our gates as smoke started coming out of the car.

“The owner tried to put it out himself with a fire extinguisher – but the flames were getting bigger and bigger.

"In the end, people had to drag him away from it as we were worried it could explode at any moment.

“It looked like a pretty nice car and I think he was probably understandably worried about the damage.”