Watch: Fire crew tackles vehicle blaze in Walsall town centre as shoppers look on

West Midlands Fire Service was called at around 1.40pm on Monday to reports of a vehicle fire between Bridge Street and St Paul's Street in Walsall. 

They sent an engine and four firefighters from Walsall fire station who arrived at the scene within three minutes. 

Plumes of smoke and flames could be seen coming from under the bonnet of the black Ford which had stopped in the middle of the road near the outdoor markets. 

A video shared to the Walsall In Pictures Facebook group showed onlookers, one of whom is believed to be the owner of the vehicle. 

He is said to have escaped the vehicle unharmed. 

The fire did, however, cause damage to the road, and Walsall Council has been informed. 

Shoppers can be seen stopping and recording the incident, with a town centre warden keeping the crowd at a distance. 

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said: "Just after 1.40pm on Monday we responded to a car on fire in St Paul’s Street, Walsall.  A fire engine and four firefighters from Walsall fire station arrived at the scene within three minutes of being mobilised. 

"They wore breathing apparatus and used a hose reel to extinguish the fire, before leaving the scene around 2.50pm.

"The car driver was able to get out of the car, unhurt, before we arrived. 

"The road surface was damaged by the fire, so we alerted the council. Police officers assisted with traffic management following the road closure."

One of the onlookers, Brian Allen, praised the heroes who stepped in to help: " The driver was insistent on driving his car. He wanted to pick someone up. 

"The man with the beard in the video forcibly removed him from the car and the imminent danger. 

"Apparently, the hero works on security for the bus station. The fire brigade arrived shortly to put out the flames. 

"These guys are heroes too, tackling the blazing car when it seemed likely to explode."