A CAR engine was completely destroyed after catching fire in Tilehurst last night.

Firefighters from Dee Road were called out to the incident involving a Peugeot 206 in Robin Way at 8.30pm and spent 40 minutes battling the flames.

Dee Road watch manager Rob Read said: "A group of young lads had driven up from Portsmouth back home and looked out the window to to see their car was on fire.

"Only the engine was damaged because they called us early on."

The fire was accidental and believed to have started due to a fault with the air conditioning.