This is the moment a mother's car erupted into a fireball in a quiet Faversham street early today.

The Renault Megane, parked in Lower Road, was left a shell after mysteriously catching alight shortly after 5am.

Firefighters spent around 20 minutes putting out the blaze after flames began erupting from the car's petrol tank.

Coach driver Richard Brittain, who lives next door to the owner of the car, said: "It was an absolute inferno.

"It really erupted after the fuel tank caught alight and the flames and noise were incredible.

"It took firefighters quite a while to completely put it out and by then the car was just a burnt out shell.

"Obviously, at that time of the morning it woke a lot of people and a few moved their cars to be on the safe side.

"The Renault belongs to a mum who came out with her children and was obviously upset and being comforted by the firemen.

"They said the police were going to help investigate to see what caused it."

One crew from Faversham fire station was sent to the scene.

Shocked residents looked on as crews battled to bring the blaze under control.

Kent Police are understood to be investigating the fire.