A COUPLE and their baby had a lucky escape after the engine of their car caught fire.

The parents first thought a burning smell was coming from the car in front as they approached the junction of Hawley Road and Church Road, Wilmington.

As they opened their Ford Mondeo's air vents to release the smell, smoke began to fill the car.

The vehicle caught fire shortly after they got out.

Dartford firefighters attended the scene and put out the fire, which they believe was caused by an electrical fault.

A spokesman said: "It was a minor fire but if it the petrol had caught alight we could have been attending a different scene altogether."

The family were not injured during the incident,which occurred at 11am on January 26.