A family managed to escape after a car and caravan went up in flames.

The shocking incident happened at the A35 Kingston Ponds layby east of Dorchester, just before the Puddletown Bypass.

Luckily no one was injured, however, the family’s car was destroyed.

Pictures of the aftermath also show the caravan in ashes.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “We were called at 3.44pm to reports of a car and caravan fire on the A35 by Kingston Ponds.

“A Volvo was ablaze along with a Bailey’s manufactured caravan.

“The occupants, the family with their two children, managed to escape the vehicle with no injuries.

“The road was then closed for a short period of time because a gas cannister was believed to be on board the caravan.

“The road was shut for around 10 minutes until the fire service arrived and deemed it safe to be reopened.”

The fire service sent two crews to the scene, from Dorchester and Weymouth respectively.

Firefighters managed to tackle the blaze using two breathing apparatus, two hose-reel jets and one main-line jet.

There were also reports that the fire caused damage to some overhead cables in the area.

The road was reopened shortly afterwards.