THIS is the dramatic scene which greeted motorists when a car poured smoke across a busy main road.

The tricky conditions were caused when a silver Vauxhall Astra experienced a mechanical failure of its engine at about 7.45pm on Thursday (May 15), causing thick smoke to billow across both carriageways of the A449 near the Blackpole turn-off.

Andy O'Hare, of Droitwich Road, Worcester, was travelling behind the vehicle and caught the arresting image as some other road users were forced to grind to a halt when the road became briefly impassable.

Mr O'Hare said: "It seems like both people in the car had gotten out safely and were phoning for aid when there was a massive burst of smoke that blew across both carriageways.

"It didn't seem to stop some drivers who drove straight through it as it erupted - estimated visibility was probably zero feet. Though after that drivers did slow down. It was quite brief and rather spectacular."

A spokesman for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed one crew from Worcester was sent to the scene to deal with the incident but discovered the mechanical fault to be a false alarm as there was no fire.