A quick-thinking girl swept up her family’s belongings and climbed out of a Mercedes van moments before it burst into flames.

The fire erupted under the bonnet of the vehicle as it was parked outside a Co-op store in Faversham.

The girl’s mother had popped into the Whitstable Road shop while her daughter, aged about 10 to 12, remained in the vehicle, according to reports.

After seeing smoke billowing from the bonnet and, having felt the heat from inside the vehicle, the youngster grabbed some personal effects before jumping out of the van.

Dramatic images show the front of the black Mercedes alight alongside significant damage in the aftermath.

One eyewitness described arriving shortly after the blaze broke out and told how he helped usher onlookers away as an eerie “whizzing sound” could be heard.

Thankfully, the fire was contained in the front of the van and extinguished by a fire crew.

Ben Fisher says he was driving along Whitstable Road on Monday evening when he spotted an “unusual orange glow”.

"I could see flames coming from a black van, with a couple of people near the Co-op store standing very closely,” the 32-year-old said.

"I told them to step back and spoke to a lady who owned the vehicle.

“She had visited the Co-op store and her daughter had remained in the car.

"Having felt the heat and seeing smoke, the girl exited the vehicle safely carrying a few belongings.”

Mr Fisher says he was told the child was upset some family possessions were still in the van.

He added: "At that point, you could hear a whizzing sound which sounded like the fuel lines.

"We got everyone back and across the street.

“The Mercedes had contained the fire mostly to the engine bay.”

Mr Fisher says the front of the vehicle was “completely destroyed”, with significant smoke damage to the interior.

A fire service spokesperson says one crew wearing breathing apparatus attended shortly after 8pm on Monday to reports of a van alight.

They used a hose reel jet to extinguish the flames and no injuries were reported.

It has not been confirmed what started the fire, but it is believed to have been accidental.