Michael Le Lacheur, right, as the remains of his pride and joy were taken away. (Picture by Aimee Le Cocq, 0902945)

A PENSIONER had a lucky escape when his Smart Car caught fire yesterday morning.

Michael Le Lacheur, 69, was driving along Route des Domaines, St Saviour’s, when he looked in his wing mirror and saw flames coming from the back of his car.

‘I got out and ran up the road as I had a full tank of fuel,’ said the retired States worker. ‘I loved my little car. I have no idea how it happened. It just went up in flames.’

The vehicle, which was about seven or eight years old, was barely recognisable and the blaze had spread to the roadside hedge.

The Fire and Rescue Service and police attended. The blaze was out within half an hour.

A Mercedes-Benz spokesman said: ‘This is a highly unusual case and it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of this incident. The Smart range of vehicles is one of the safest in its segment. Indeed, the Smart is built to the same stringent and exacting standards as the rest of the Mercedes-Benz family.’

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