Residents watched in horror as a car went up in flames in a street of terraced houses.

The vehicle was left a burnt-out wreck after the blaze in Gladstone Road, Maidstone, last night.

The silver Skoda Scala, believed to be a rental car, had all its windows blown out as flames ripped through the vehicle, melting tyres and plastic bumpers with the heat. The bonnet was left crumpled.

Neighbour Muhammad Afzal, a father-of-two, said: "It was very scary. The first I knew of it was seeing the flames through our windows.

"It looked like the fire started from the battery. The owner tried throwing buckets of water over it but it wouldn't stop. I had to call the fire brigade two times."

He added: "It was very frightening. We didn't know if the car was going to explode so I put my children in the next room to be safe."

Firefighters were called to the street off Boxley Road just before 11pm.

A spokeswoman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "One fire engine attended. Crews wore breathing apparatus while using compressed air foam to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported."

She added: "It’s believed the fire was started deliberately."

Police said they were not asked to attend.