A WOMAN failed to notice her car was on fire as she drove down a busy road.

Police were forced to stop the vehicle on the A35 in west Dorset today as flames shot out from underneath it.

Numerous people had called the fire brigade after spotting the grey Citroen Xsara estate on the A35 west of Bridport this afternoon. It was brought to a stop by police officers near Morcombelake about 5pm.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “This fire was noticed by a member of the public who was driving in the opposite direction.  "The fire brigade had already received numerous calls about this.

"Officers were deployed to try and intercept the vehicle.

"The driver was unaware of the flames coming from the car."

The driver was uninjured but damage to the car is believed to be extensive.

A spokeswoman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We had a single pump from Lyme Regis and we used two breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.

"The call came in at 4.54pm and was brought under control at 5.25pm."

Traffic was able to pass the car but there was congestion to Chideock. 

The area was cleared at around 7.30pm after the vehicle was recovered.