Julie Herbert and her two children just managed to get out of this car before it went up in flames while she was driving it in Route des Capelles last Friday. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0824303)

A TEACHER whose car exploded in a ball of flames must wait for her UK insurer to visit the island to check it is not drivable.

Julie Herbert, who escaped unhurt when her Peugeot 306 suddenly caught fire on Friday, now has no transport because the insurer also refused to authorise a hire car.

‘We are OK now, but the one thing that keeps happening is I remember other things that we lost in the fire,’ said the St Sampson’s High teacher.

That included built-in TV screens, a camera, shopping and some schoolwork.

The insurer would cover only up to £100-worth of the car’s contents.

‘They have to send someone over to look at the car, to say if it can be repaired.

‘I seriously doubt that.’

She said she had learned about insurance the hard way but was just glad her son Jon, 18, and daughter Alex, 12, were unhurt.

‘The insurance doesn’t cover everything. It’s a bit gutting, but at least everyone is OK – it is just a bit unfortunate.’

Mrs Herbert said she stopped the car when smoke started to come from the dashboard.

‘I just can’t believe it happened. One minute we were driving home, the next the car is a ball of flames.’