A motorist was left shocked after his brand new £120,000 car burst into flames while parked in a garage.
The man had been out for a spin with his young son in the black Bentley Continental car when he spotted smoke coming from the bonnet.
Thinking it was the exhaust manifold which had blown, the man parked the car back in his garage at Steward Elm Farm, in Stambridge, near Rochford.
Minutes later, however, he spotted a bright glow coming from inside, and alerted fire crews from Rochford and Southend.
Two officers with breathing apparatus entered the garage and put out the blaze, but not before the front end of the car had been destroyed.
A Southend fire station spokesman said: "Luckily we were able to save the garage itself, but the bonnet and front half of the car were severely damaged." It is believed the blaze was caused by an electrical fault.
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