Sainsbury's fuel station in Helston remains closed this evening after disaster was narrowly averted when a car caught fire directly next to a fuel pump.

Customers watched in horror as flames began leaping into the air, just a few metres away from the pumps.

An eyewitness described it as “very scary” but added that fire fighters arrived incredibly quickly.

They put out the fire within seconds of arrival, before checking the area was safe.

A fire service spokesperson said: "Critical Control received numerous calls to a vehicle on fire on a petrol station forecourt. Fire crews from Helston, Mullion and Falmouth Community Fire Stations were mobilised to the incident along with a Fire Officer.

"On arrival fire crews found the vehicle to be well alight. A covering jet was used to protect the area and two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using a hose jet extinguished the fire."

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We can confirm an incident took place at the petrol filling station at our Helston store earlier this afternoon. Thanks to the quick responses of colleagues and the fire brigade, there were no injuries and no damage to the petrol filling station.

"Following a full evacuation, the site is currently closed, but will reopen for customers shortly."