Man’s body found in blazing car

THE body of a man has been found inside a blazing car.

Firefighters made the horrific discovery as they tackled the fire in Failsworth last night.

The man, believed to be 57 years old, was inside the Vauxhall Zafira, parked at Banbury Road, in Medlock Vale.

Ashton fire crews alerted Oldham police to the incident at around 8pm.

The road, off Green Lane, was cordoned off by Oldham police while forensic experts searched for evidence.

A police inquiry is ongoing, although early indications are that there are no suspicious circumstances.

A garage owner, who was working near by at the time, called the fire brigade after spotting the car.

He said: “I heard an explosion at about 7.20pm. I ran down to the bottom and saw the car on fire.

“I couldn’t see anyone in it at first because of the fire. It was only after they had put it out that I could see the body.

“They dragged him out, it was a bit gruesome and a shock. You don’t want to see anything like that.”

The man, who said there was nothing he could do to save the driver, has since reviewed CCTV footage which he has handed to police.

He said it shows the man arriving at 5.10pm and spending two hours at his car before using an accelerant to start the blaze.

The garage owner said: “He’s obviously come here as it’s a quiet spot.”