A man has described how he raced to save his livelihood after a burning stolen car rolled into his work van.

The chaos unfolded in Burham near Rochester between midnight and 12.30am when an Audi TT was set on fire in Old School Close. It then rolled into nearby vehicles.

Plumber and gas engineer Robert Hallifax ran out of his house to find the Audi on fire next to van, and leapt into his vehicle to move it as the burning car exploded.

It then rolled into a nearby minibus which then also caught fire, and flames leapt above the village as the chaos unfolded.

"To be honest I'm lucky," said Robert, 57. "I was still up and watching TV so I heard the commotion. I went into the garden and I could see flames going above the garage.

"The car had rolled about 20 to 30 metres. That's when I came out – something started blowing up on the car, it was exploding and it was right next to my van, so I had to move the van.

"The burning wreck then rolled into my next-door neighbour's minibus – he's actually borrowed the bus from Hadlow College. It's totalled it, it's a burnt wreck, but hopefully it's insured.

"That's when the fire brigade turned up – about six people must have called them. It woke all the neighbours up."

Although he described the situation as frightening, Robert said he was more concerned that the fire could destroy his van and spread to his garage.

"I was panicking, because my life is in that garage," he added. "My Harley Davidson, my work tools. If I didn't move my van I'd have nothing.

"The bins are melted, even the number plate on my other car has melted. The neighbour's car is damaged.

"The car kept on exploding – it must have exploded about four or five times. The flames were visible all over this end of the village.

"Now there's a smouldering wreck at the back of the garage and a lot of debris, and van has scorch marks on it, but I can still use it which is a blessing."

He feared the thieves responsible for the damage were not likely to be found.

"They're scumbags," he added. "No one's going to get caught, let's be honest. People's lives get ruined and they have to carry on and deal with it."