FIREFIGHTERS feared a person was trapped in a stolen car that ended up overturned and engulfed in flames in Sidbury.

FIREFIGHTERS feared a person was trapped in a stolen car that ended up overturned and engulfed in flames in Sidbury.

Police this week launched an investigation to track down the criminal who pinched the red Vauxhall Astra saloon and fled the scene after it crashed then burned out of control in the early hours of Saturday morning.

It took firefighters from Sidmouth an hour to tackle flames that ravaged the vehicle on the A375.

Crew commander Rob Crisp said his team feared the worst when they arrived at the scene, near Synderborough Farm in Cotford, at around 1.30am.

“It was a bit of a mystery when we got there,” Mr Crisp told the Herald. It seemed the car had hit the bank at the bottom of Sidbury Hill and rolled over onto its roof. It was well alight.

“At the time we couldn’t see anybody around which was unusual. We feared somebody was in there. Fortunately there wasn’t.”

Firefighters donned specialist breathing apparatus and used two hose reels to tackle flames. They left the scene at 2.40am.

A police spokesperson said the car was stolen from a property ten miles away in Bedlands Lane, Budleigh Salterton, between 12.45am on Saturday, March 19, and 10.30pm the night before, Friday, March 18.

Contact PC Simon Evans with information on 08452 777444, crime reference: KE/11/756.