A CAR was destroyed after an engine fault caused the vehicle to become engulfed in flames on the A33.

The driver of the Volvo car saw smoke coming from the engine on Saturday, May 6 and managed to escape unharmed.

However, the vehicle was written off after what was believed to have been an engine fault.

Crews from Caversham Road and Whitley Wood fire station were deployed to the busy stretch of road at around 9.30am.

The fire had spread from the engine to the interior of the car by the time fire fighters arrived at the scene.

They used specialist breathing equipment and hose reels to extinguish the fire.

A spokesman for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at 9.35am on May 6 to a car fire on the A33 relief road, Reading (Junction 11).

"We mobilised a crew from Caversham Road Fire Station and they used two breathing apparatus and one hose reel to extinguish the fire.

"The stop message was received at 10.16am."