A DRIVER was forced to abandon his car as it burst into flames in a suburban street.

Eye-witnesses watched on in shock as the blue Vauxhall Astra burst into "fierce flames" which "lit up the streets".

One onlooker said that the extent of the flames forced the driver, described as being in his late 20s and white, to stop and then flee the scene on foot.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue crew attended the blaze in Hodshrove Road in the Moulsecoomb area of Brighton just after 1.40pm yesterday afternoon.

Two firefighters had to don breathing apparatus as they put the fire out.