A mum and her child had to flee their car after it burst into flames as they were travelling along the coast-bound carriageway of the M2.

The woman managed to pull over onto the exit slip-road at junction 3 for Chatham and get herself and the her child out of their Mercedes A Class unharmed.

As they did so a passing ambulance crew stopped to help them and give them somewhere safe to sit until fire crews from Medway arrived to put out the flames.

The incident happened at about 1.45pm yesterday and the vehicle was totally destroyed by the blaze.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “They lady heard a squeaky noise and smoke started billowing out of the engine compartment.”