Car explodes in busy street

And crowds of intrigued pedestrians screamed as the engine of the plush vehicle exploded.

Sharnazze Callender-Green, 15, from Sacred Heart School witnessed the blaze on a bus and was first to alert the emergency services.

She said: "First of all there was a little bit of smoke coming from the limo so me and my friends rushed off.

"As we got nearer the limo there was a loud bang and every one started screaming - then the fire just got bigger and bigger. "

Firefighters, police officers and ambulance staff arrived shortly after the blast to tackle the flames and plumes of dark smoke, while groups of onlookers gathered and filmed footage of the wreckage on their mobile phones.

Fourteen-year-old Sarah-Leah Millwood also witnessed the accident.

She said: "There was another loud boom after the first one.

"The whole front half of the limo was on fire. You don't normally see this sort of thing in Harrow. "

Car company What Limo UK, who owned the vehicle, claimed the fire was a result of an electrical fault and police have confirmed they are not treating the blaze suspiciously.

Harrow Council were called to clear the debris after the fire was put out and temporary road closures were lifted at 9pm.