A FAMILY feel they are "lucky to be alive" after their car mysteriously "exploded" in the middle of the night – days after the manufacturer announced a product recall on the vehicle.
Marie Brown, 65, got a letter last week asking her to book her Toyota Yaris in for a service because of a "potential issue with the airbag".
She booked an appointment at the earliest opportunity – on October 2 – but the car burst into flames outside Marie's home just after 1am on Sunday.
Toyota say there is "no known fire hazard in relation to this particular recall" and sent a scene investigator yesterday.
They will not comment further until the report has been compiled.
Humberside Fire And Rescue is also carrying out an investigation but have ruled out the possibility of any foul play.
Widow Marie lives with her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Brian Avenue, Cleethorpes, which is where the 2003 Yaris was parked on Saturday night.
It was barely three feet from the house and between two other cars – an Audi A5 and a Mitsubishi 4x4.
The family was sleeping when the fire started but they were woken by a passing taxi driver who lent on his horn and called the fire brigade when he saw the flames.
Marie said: "My room is at the front so I was woken first and screamed for my son.
"It was like an inferno outside and I couldn't even tell which car it was coming from."
Granddaughter Kennedy, 17, said the flames were "taller than the house" and watched the vehicle "jolt forward" when it exploded.
She said the experience was "terrifying" and had nightmares that she was burning alive when she finally got to sleep that night.
Son Mark, 45, said: "I heard mum shout, saw the fire and ran straight downstairs because it was parked right between two other cars and I thought they might go off too.
"I couldn't get out of the front door because it was too hot so I ran out the back and jumped the wall – but I couldn't get near it.
"It's caused a lot of damage but I can't stop myself thinking 'what if this had happened when mum was driving it?'"
The Yaris was burnt out, the Audi A5 and Mitsubishi have suffered severe paint damage and the fixtures and fascias at the front of the house are melted and black.
Heat from the fire has cracked the front windows and the smell of smoke inside is overpowering.
Mark's wife Niki thinks it could have been so much worse.
"We're so lucky to be alive – possessions can be replaced but people can't," said the 44-year-old.
"I hope everyone who reads this checks their smoke alarms tonight because you can't put a price on your family."
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