THREE men fled from a car on the motorway seconds before it burst into flames.
Firefighters arrived on the northbound carriageway of the M61 at Chequerbent, Westhoughton, at 4.45am today and found the Toyota Supra blazing.
The driver had pulled on to the hard shoulder when the electrics on the car failed and smoke began billowing from beneath the dashboard.
The three men, in their 20s, sprinted away from the vehicle and saw it burst into flames moments later.
The speed limit had to be temporarily lowered on both carriageways because visibility was reduced by the thick smoke.
Firefighters said the motorist, believed to be from Blackpool, had only bought the car in the last 24 hours.
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