A taxi driver told how he has been left petrified after his cab was set alight on a petrol station forecourt.

Afghani Abdul Awal, who works for Folkestone Taxi, said he picked up two men in Dymchurch on Friday night.

Heading for Folkestone Harbour, Mr Awal said the men told him to pull up in the BP station forecourt in Seabrook Road, Hythe, at about 11.45pm.

He said one man then pumped petrol from a nozzle on to the back seat of his car while another man set fire to it using a cigarette lighter. The pair then fled towards Folkestone on foot.

He said: “They were saying horrible things to me inside the car and I was afraid. I was looking for another taxi or police car to help me.

“They told me to stop at the garage to buy alcohol but the man started pouring petrol everywhere in my car so I got out to try and stop him.

“Then from the other side of the car another man lit the seat with a lighter and they ran off.”

Mr Awal says he screamed at a petrol station worker, telling them to turn off the pumps.

Flames engulfed the black saloon, sparking loud bangs that “sounded like fireworks”.

Officers investigating the incident confirmed two men were seen running towards the beach in the direction of Folkestone.

One witness living nearby said he opened his windows fearing the impact of an explosion would shatter them, and praised the quick-thinking emergency services.

Ashley Judd, a retired engineer who lives in Battery Point opposite the garage, said: “I heard two loud bangs that sounded like fireworks. I looked out of the garage and saw the fire.

“Of course, all sorts goes through your mind but the flames were not hitting the pump, fortunately the car was not adjacent to the pump.

“I opened the windows so if the worst happened and there was an explosion there would be less impact and less chance of them shattering.”

Fire crews, who managed to extinguish the blaze and make the area safe by 12.15am, prevented the fire from spreading to the surrounding forecourt.

Nobody was injured but the car was severely damage.

A 27-year-old man from Folkestone was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of arson.

Folkestone Taxi bosses say they are relieved Mr Awal was unharmed and hope to see him behind the wheel again soon.

Howard White, office manager, said: “We do get incidents, of course, but never anything as serious as this.

"We were just concerned with how he was. I have rung him several times to make sure he was OK over the weekend.

“He is a very quiet and unassuming man who just takes his passengers from A to B. He’s a great employee.”

Police are appealing for information in relation to the fire and would like to speak to a man captured on CCTV prior to the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 15-1554.

Alternatively contact Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.