Van destroyed in sudden blaze

Firefighters were called to Kitt Green Road at around 11.15am on Saturday and found the vehicle parked up well ablaze.

Crews said the shaken male driver told them he had been at the wheel when he heard a loud bang.

He then looked under the bonnet and found smoke was coming from the engine bay before it suddenly burst into flames.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to tackle the fire but were unable to prevent the van being completely written off.

The driver was unhurt and the fire did not spread beyond the vehicle.

The crew from Wigan fire station remained at the scene for around half an hour.