A family including young children had a lucky escape after they fled a burning car.
Police said a woman, her friend and two toddlers were in a car when a fire started in the engine.
The occupants were helped from the vehicle by passers-by and a passing police officer, PC Rob Hammond.
The incident took place yesterday morning on the C13 road north of Blandford at the junction with the road to Tarrant Gunville.
The car’s engine caught fire and the woman driving was alerted to the incident by a motorist who indicated for her to pull over.
The motorist who flagged the woman down then helped with getting the occupants to safety, assisted by police and another member of the public.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Blandford arrived shortly after to extinguish the flames.
PC Rob Hammond said: “The incident took place at the C13 junction with Tarrant Gunville at 10.10am. A lady’s car engine caught fire and another motorist saw then indicated for her to pull over. The motorist was then joined by another member of the public and assisted us in getting the woman, her friend and two toddlers to safety before the fire was put out.”
A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Two breathing apparatus wearers used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.”
There were no reported injuries and the vehicle has since been recovered.
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