THIS picture shows the dramatic moment when a car became an inferno and "exploding air bags" rocked a city street.

Flames leapt into the air and smoke billowed higher than the rooftops as firefighters dealt with the blaze in Wonford Road, St Leonard's.

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These pictures and a video of the blazing car were supplied by Echo readers Ramunas Zickus and Joe Stoneman, 40.

The car's driver is believed to have pulled over near the junction of Mount Radford Crescent just before 5.30pm on Thursday.

Within seconds it was a mass of flames, causing two loud bangs when the air bags burst because of the heat.

It was so intense it melted the plastic rear lights on a Seat people carrier parked on a nearby driveway.

Mr Zickus was passing by when he snapped the scene. Mr Stoneman, a self-employed illustrator, of Radnor Place, said: "It was spectacular, just like a firework display. There were two big bangs."

Mother-of-three Karen Atkins, of Wonford Road, said: "The firemen told me the bangs were caused by the air bags exploding. It was very dramatic.

"The firemen said the driver had stopped after smelling something unusual in his car. Moments later it was in flames."

Neighbour Dinah Warren who has two children, aged 12 and nine, said her husband, Michael, gave the driver a hot drink.

She said: "He was unhurt and there were a lot of people about. The driver managed to save his laptop from inside the car."

Another neighbour, Ruth Lewis said: "I was coming home from work when I saw the fire engine. There was smoke everywhere and the road was blocked off.

"A crowd watched what was going on."

Firefighters were alerted following numerous calls from the public.

A spokesman for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "The car on the public highway was severely damaged and a further car on a driveway was damaged by radiated heat, Crews used two breathing apparatus sets, two hose reels and hydraulic rescue equipment to extinguish the blaze."

An investigation is under way into what caused the blaze.