A FAMILY that was left standing at the roadside as they watched their car go up in a ball of flames have given thanks for the "absolutely amazing efforts" of people who came to their rescue.

Tracey Oliver-Brunning, her husband and their four young children had been driving through Helston on their way to meet with family members when they spotted smoke coming from the back of their car.

Pulling up on the side of the road just before the turning to Penhellaz Hill and St Johns, on the Penzance Road, they initially only got everyone out the car as "a precaution." However, it was a move that could have ultimately saved their lives, as just moments later the car became a giant fireball, with the tyres exploding from the heat of the blaze.

An ex-firefighter and a couple of other men ran up the road from the direction of St Johns Business Park, carrying three fire extinguishers, and tried to put out the flames but the blaze had already taken hold too far.

Tracey said: "They were absolutely amazing in their efforts and we are so grateful for their attempts to help us.

"It was scary as it happened so quickly, but we knew the kids and each other were safe, that was the main thing we focused on."

Firefighters from Helston and Penzance arrived and put out the blaze with a hose reel jet, leaving the Citroen Picasso C4 just the burnt out shell. Police were called to direct traffic, with long delays caused in both directions, particularly coming from the Penzance direction. Cornwall Highways and the Environment Agency also attended.

While this was happening, the family, which includes the couple's two sons aged one and 12, and two daughters, aged ten and then two, could only stand and watch on helplessly. Seeing their plight, at least three people living in the neighbouring houses rushed out to offer support, inviting the family into their homes, with one woman bringing out a flask of tea and cans of Diet Coke.

Another man stopped to give them cups of water to keep them hydrated as they stood waiting at the side of the road last Thursday.

Tracey, from Penzance, said: "They are wonderful and generous people and we are so thankful and grateful to them. Also the fire brigade were brilliant, along with the lone policewoman who was directing the traffic. They were all fantastic and amazing and we are so grateful for all their help."

She said there had been no warning that anything was wrong with the car, which only passed its MOT three months ago.

"My husband was driving and all was fine until he suddenly spotted smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. "Luckily he was able to pull into the lay-by and we pulled the kids out, initially as a precaution.

"It wasn't until we were out of the car that we saw the flames at the front of the car coming from underneath it," she added.

The family was rescued by family members, some of which they had arranged to meet and others who are also from Penzance and just happened to be in Helston by coincidence, who between them arranged to ferry the family home over three cars.

The road was closed from just after 2.30pm, with one lane remaining shut for almost two hours while the fire was put out and the vehicle cleared. This caused a long backlog of traffic, although diversions were put in place via Porthleven.