A car went up in flames in Maldon this afternoon.

The blue Peugeot 206 caught fire just after midday in Butt Lane off the High Street and fire crews from Maldon extinguished it within half an hour.

Fire crews arrived at the scene at 12.07pm and used one hose to tackle the blaze, thought to have come from the engine.

Initial investigations by the fire crews deem the fire to be suspicious, but police have since quashed the claim.

Witness Jessica Hughes said: “I think it was quite bad, there were quite a few flames.

“I saw flames and smoke and the owner of car trying to put it out.”

Police were also called to the scene.