FIREFIGHTER Andy Hyland was left red faced after his car caught fire in the centre of Dartmouth and he was forced to call on his colleagues for help.

Mr Hyland had only driven a few yards from Market Square when his Ford Mondeo car died on him and smoke began pouring out from under the bonnet.

He managed to borrow a fire extinguisher from a nearby wine shop and attack the small wiring blaze himself.

Minutes later the whole Dartmouth fire team showed up with their fire engine to find an embarrassed Mr Hyland waiting for them.

The fire team, led by Watch Commander Mark Cresswell, disabled the battery before pushing the car from outside the Butterwalk in Duke Street to Police Station Square.

Mr Hyland, who has been a Dartmouth firefighter for 20 years, said the problem had been caused by wiring dropping onto the exhaust and melting.

'I am extremely embarrassed,' he said, although he added: 'It could have happened to anybody but if it had been left it could have got a lot worse.'

He also said: 'I am very grateful to the vintners for the use of their CO2 extinguisher.'

Mr Hyland's problems began just after 1pm last Friday.

Mr Cresswell pointed out that the car had stopped in the middle of the road directly outside the Butterwalk – one of the most historic buildings in the town.

'The engine cut out and he had smoke coming out from under the bonnet and the dashboard,' he said.