DRAMATIC scenes unfolded as a car burst into flames in the centre of Worcester.

The car, parked outside the former Worcestershire History Centre in Trinity Street in the city centre caught fire at 11.20am this morning.

A spokesman from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said they received 14 calls about the fire and quickly went to the scene, where firefighters used two hose reels and two breathing apparatus to put out the flames.

Police closed the road while the crew worked to put out the fire, which was fully extinguished by 11.50am. The white car, believed to be a Ford Kuga, was seriously damaged and is believed to be a write-off and had to be towed away. The road was re-opened shortly after.

Laura Frampton, who works at recruitment agency Adecco in nearby St Nicholas Street, said she and her colleagues first realised something was wrong when they heard the car's horn going off repeatedly.

“I looked out of the window and could see flames coming out of the car,” she said “My colleague called the fire brigade as the flames grew higher and higher.

“One of my colleagues blocked the road to stop people driving down it and about 10 minutes later the police, the fire brigade and the ambulance arrived.

"The amount of smoke that came out was amazing - it just filled the air.

"It was very dramatic for a Monday morning."

Although no one was in the car at the time a spokesman from West Midlands Ambulance Service said one person was treated at the scene and refused further treatment.

Leanne Walker, from Wow Hair and Beauty in Trinity Street, said the driver and his wife were very distressed.

"The man who owned the car came into my workplace to sit down and catch his breath he said it literally just caught fire after turning radio on.

"Something to do with the Electrics, I guess.

"Him and his wife were really distressed and upset."

Shireen Patrick was also at the scene and told your Worcester News what she saw.

"I left the Hop Market with my husband and as we were coming out we could hear the horn going off," she said.

"There was nobody in the car but lots of people were standing around watching.

"It was very loud - we could hear the tyres bursting and the windows smashing.

"The fire brigade arrived and told people to keep back but they were still walking right past it."

It is not currently known how the fire was caused.