The peace of a quiet residential street was disturbed late last night as a car erupted into a fireball.

Fire crews raced to St David’s Close in Whitstable after a number of neighbours called 999 to say a young boy had torched the Ford Fiesta.

The car was well alight when firefighters arrived shortly before 10.30pm.

Onlookers captured the drama on camera, with crews tackling the flames with a hose before dousing nearby cars with foam to stop the fire spreading.

The police were called, but officers searching the area could not find the suspect.

Inquiries continue.