A VAN was badly damaged by flames when it caught fire on a Southampton estate.

The burning vehicles was found parked outside a home in Brading Close, Bassett Green at 7.37pm last night.

The blaze sparked panic among neighbours who rushed from their homes to move their vehicles in case the fire spread.

Crews from St Mary's fire station arrived within minutes and used two breathing apparatus and a hose reel to put it out.

No one was hurt but the van's engine department was completely destroyed in the blaze.

A police spokesman confirmed the blaze is not being treated as suspicious.

Brayden Ward, 18, who watched the drama unfold from his nearby home said: “The flames were quite high and there was a lot of black smoke “People were panicking at first and moving their vehicles and then they stood back watching the fire brigade.”

“It's normally a quiet area and nothing like this normally happens.”