POLICE are investigating a horrific collision in East Devon which has left a teenager with serious burns.

The 16-year-old was riding a black Derbi moped when he collided with a red Kia Sedona in Harepath Road, Seaton.

Both vehicles were engulfed by flames and a witness said the man in the car jumped out of the vehicle to help the boy.

Police arrived at the scene within minutes, along with paramedics and fire crews.

The 49-year-old driver of the car was treated at the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital for minor injuries, while the boy was transferred to the Bristol Burns Hospital after initial treatment in Exeter.

The man was later arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and held in custody at Heavitree Road police station in Exeter.

Both the man and the boy are from the Seaton area.

Crews used breathing apparatus, hose reels and hydraulic cutting equipment at the scene of the accident, which occurred shortly after 7pm on Monday.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "Both vehicles were severely damaged by fire. One casualty was treated at the scene by ambulance personnel and then taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from burns and suspected injuries to back and neck."

Resident Daniel Warren, 23, lives in Willow Close, backing on to Harepath Road, and told the Echo the crash sounded "like fireworks".

He said: "It was a loud bang. My mum said a car was on fire so I went around the corner and the whole thing was up in flames.

"The man in the car had jumped out of it and gone to the boy on the bike to help.

"The boy was lying in the road and the car was on fire. He was calling out. Emergency services came really quickly, within a few minutes.

"It took fire crews 30 minutes to put out the fire. It was quite bad.

"The car was completely burnt out.

"The guy in the car lives around the corner from me."

Harepath Road remained closed until 3am yesterday while police collision investigators carried out a full examination of the scene.

A police spokesman said: "During the impact, a fuel tank apparently split and ignited. The theory is that the fire started with the moped and spread to the car."

The man was released on bail yesterday afternoon and is due to return to the police station on Thursday, February 19.