COMMUTERS at the Mannington roundabout in West Swindon watched open mouthed as a car burst into flames at rush and caused long delays.

Shortly before 9am, the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Wiltshire Police were called to the flaming red Audi, which had been pulled to the side of the road outside a car dealership.

The eastbound carriageway of Wootton Bassett Road was affected for the best part of half-an-hour as fire crews tackled the blaze, with police officers managing traffic around the scene.

The South West Ambulance Service was not called and it is not believed anybody was hurt as a result of the incident, which was reportedly caused by an electrical fault.

Emergency services were on the scene at around 8.50am and had made the scene safe by 9.15am.

“We were called at 8.50am to a car fire outside Fish Brothers Peugeot in Wootton Bassett Road,” a Wiltshire Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said.

“One crew from Westlea attended a red Audi.

“The fire was in the engine compartment of the car.

"Two breathing apparatus were used, along with one hose reel jet."

“The stop message came at 9.10am.”

A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said: “We were called at 8.51am to outside the Peugeot showroom where a red Audi was on fire. We attended to help with traffic control.”