A driver had a lucky escape after her car caught fire.

The grandmother was driving with her granddaughter in Hollingbury today (July 26) when their Vauxhall Corsa began to smell.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “It started to smell like a barbecue.

“We parked the car and there was no smell of barbecues outside.

“Then we saw smoke coming from the bonnet.”

The pair quickly got out of the car after stopping in the car park at Asda in Crowhurst Road, as the bonnet caught alight.

Fire engines were called and doused the front of the car, which was left a charred and melted heap of metal, plastic and rubber.

It is the second time in two days a car has caught alight in the hot weather, after another Vauxhall caught fire in Chichester.

Fire crews have warned drivers to make sure they check their cars for water given the heat.