SEVEN-year-old Thomas Newman was expecting an explosive Christmas - but to his horror, his high-powered remote control car did just that.

After playing with his £50 Shotgun and Skidzo toy on Boxing Day, Thomas, from Lordswood in Southampton, was shocked to find it had gone up in smoke the following morning.

Mum Karen Newman said her son was heartbroken: "It was top of his Christmas list so he was really upset when he saw it."

She found the toy belching smoke after Thomas had gone to bed: "It was like plastic burning.

"Then it let off a hell of a bang - it looked like the bottom of the car had just melted."

Karen was shocked with the state of the 15-inch long car. - "It was just lucky it wasn't with Thomas in his room. It could have gone up in his hands," she said

Trading Standards officials have launched an investigation into the incident after Karen alerted them.

Principal Trading Standards officer Dave Sargeant said the complaint was being looked into, but stressed it was likely to be an isolated incident.

He said: "We have no other reported incidents like this, so it's probably a one-off technical fault."

The toy was bought at The Entertainer, in the Marlands Shopping Centre, Southampton.

The shop confirmed that no other cars had been returned.

Manufacturer Fowler Electronics was not immediately available for comment.