FIREFIGHTERS were called to reports of a car fire near Dorchester in the early hours of the morning.

The incident occurred on Monday on the A35, near Stinsford Roundabout. 

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 00.34am and sent a crew from Dorchester.

Firefighters used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire and were assisted by one breathing apparatus.

The car was destroyed by the fire. 

Firefighters were at the scene for around an hour. Police also attended the incident. 

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police has since confirmed the car involved was a silver Vauxhall Astra, registered to a man from Bournemouth, and not a Ford Focus as previously reported.

The cause of the fire was electrical. The road was closed at Stinsford Roundabout whilst emergency services dealt with the fire.

It was reopened at 1.32am.