THE driver of a stolen car escaped on a moped when the vehicle crashed into a tree on a bend at Coldham last night and later became engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Wisbech were called out at 8pm and were at the scene for an hour and a half. They had to use breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.

A spokesman for the fire service said it is believed the fire did not start on impact but is likely to have been subsequently caused by the crash.

A police spokesman said: “The vehicle crashed into a tree and the driver got out and drove off on a moped while the vehicle was still alight. It is suspected that the vehicle had been stolen from an address in March.”

At 7.40pm a fire crew from March had been called to a car fire in the town’s Flaggrass Hill Road. It is believed that fire had been started deliberately.