A MAN was seen running down the road in flames after a car was set alight.

Horrified residents heard the “explosions” of car windows blowing out and saw a man pulling his burning clothes off in Benville Road at Fiveways in Weymouth.

Families at Fiveways Court told of the frightening moment when they woke up in the middle of the night to find the car burning so fiercely that it melted fittings on walls outside and they could feel the heat inside the building. A parked car nearby was also damaged.

One man, who asked not to be named, said: “I saw the van alight and I saw him running down the road on fire.

“He threw his burning jacket off and kicked his trainers and trousers off and then he ran with his boxer shorts and one sock on.”

The car set on fire was a Kia Sidona people carrier used by Dowsett Motors for boat trailer safety checks.

Some residents at the flats said they believed they heard two men near the car when it was set alight.

When the fire flared up an ambulance, police and a fire engine from Weymouth were called.

Firefighters said the cause of the fire at 2am yesterday morning was arson but nobody had been arrested yesterday.

The man who was seen burning was understood to be in the burns unit in Odstock Hospital in Salisbury last night.

Holly Edgar, 24, lives in a flat near the fire scene.

She said: “I woke up when I heard the sound of popping as the fire started and when I looked out all I could see was the orange glow above the wall.

“I ran out to the foyer and you could feel the heat coming through the front door.”

Residents said the police arrived first before the ambulance and then the fire service.

Miss Edgar rushed her two-year-old son Callum out of his room.

She said: “All the windows along the building could have been blown in and it could’ve killed us.

“Some of my neighbours phoned the police and said two lads were heard and they chucked petrol on there and one of them set themselves on fire by doing it.

“As he lit the car he must’ve spilt petrol on himself.

“The police found a petrol can and said he had quite bad injuries.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said they heard “four or five explosions” and could smell the burning plastic in their flat.

Photographer Dave Haysom of Tollerdown Road said: “I didn’t see the car go up in flames but when I got there I saw the police photographing a pair of trousers which had been discarded in the road.

“I understand it was a very intense fire.”

He added: “This area is a bit of a thoroughfare for people heading towards Lanehouse. It’s not as bad as other areas.

“My own car was vandalised the other week when someone threw some stones at it.”

Dorset Police said they were investigating a suspicious fire which damaged a car in Benville Road but could give no more details.

A spokesman said members of the public told officers they saw a man run from the scene. He said there had been no arrests so far.

The force is appealing for witnesses and information. Anyone with information can contact Weymouth CID on 01305 222222.