"Mum, my feet are on fire!"

That was the shocking cry of a 14-year-old boy this morning just moments before a car, driven by his school teacher mum, burst into flames.

Nicky Keefe had driven her partner and three children a quarter of a mile from their home in Lower Morden Lane when the Golf Convertible, which she bought only yesterday on eBay for £800, started smoking.

After turning on the heater to clear the windscreen Mrs Keefe saw the smoke coming from the grills but thought it might be normal for an old car.

Then her son James, who was sitting in the passenger seat, noticed his Vans shoes were melting.

Mrs Keefe, a primary school teacher at Cheam Park Farm Infants School, said: "We got out of the car and told the people behind us our car was on fire. Then suddenly it was engulfed in flames."

Her partner, Kevin Keogh, who works at Home Standards in Mitcham, was in the back with James' two younger siblings, Mia, 10 and Harry, 12.

Fortunately, no-one was injured.

Mrs Keefe, who is in shock and is taking the day off today, said: "We are in shock but we are all safe. That's the main thing."

The family had bought the 20-year-old car from eBay and collected it from private sellers in Hampshire on Sunday.

Mrs Keefe said: "They were quite a nice, normal couple. I think they are going to be quite shocked that this has happened."

Your Local Guardian:

Burnt-out: the car remains after firefighters extinguished the blaze

Your Local Guardian:

Best excuse ever for not handing in homework? Mia Keefe, 10, and mum Nicky Keefe with their burnt possessions.

She said her partner was checking their insurance to see if they were covered, and would also contact eBay about the incident.

Firefighters were called to the scene, close to the junction with Epsom Road, just after 8.20am. Police closed Lower Morden Lane while officers removed the car.

The road has since been re-opened.

The family were approaching the junction of Epsom Road when the blaze began.

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