A MOTHER and daughter fled for their lives from their car -- seconds before it burst into flames.

Joanne Greenhalgh, aged 32, grabbed her 11-year-old daughter, Gayle, by the hand and jumped out of the car when she spotted smoke pouring from the engine.

The Breightmet mother than watched helpless in a lay-by on St Peter's Way, Bolton, as flames quickly engulfed the engine compartment. The fire was brought under control by a passing motorist who put out the blaze using a fire extinguisher.

The incident happened as Mrs Greenhalgh of Crossdale Road was driving along the busy by-pass road on her way to Manchester when she spotted smoke coming from her engine. She managed to stop the car in the lay-by before the mother and daughter leapt to safety. The couple were unhurt but shaken by the ordeal. Recovering at home after the incident on Saturday Mrs Greenhalgh said: "We're both safe and well. That is all that matters."

The fire is believed to have been started by an electrical fault. The engine compartment of the Vauxhall Cavalier car was badly damaged.