By Josh Donaldson

A FATHER and his young girl had a lucky escape this morning after the car they were in suddenly caught fire.

Ryan Drouet, 32, was travelling along Archers Road in Southampton with his daughter when flames started coming from his Renault Laguna.

The pair were unhurt if a little shaken, with Mr Drouet none the wiser as to why the fire started in the 15-year-old car’s engine.

He said: “The car has always been fine, but as soon as I saw the fire I rang 999 and they dealt with it really quickly.”

The fire service were on the scene by 8.45am and quickly had the blaze under control.

Watch manager Shaun Cheeseman was also puzzled by the blaze.

“By looking at the car, there is no clear reason as to why it started and at this point the cause is unknown.”

The fire was contained to the vehicle, and nobody was hurt at the scene.