Warwick Road is blocked in both ways after a car carrying a family of four became engulfed in flames in the middle of the road.

Firefighters were called to the fire outside the Beehive pub at about 1pm.

A spokesman for Carlisle East Fire Station said: "The car started smoking from the dashboard, the family stopped the car and got out.

"Two minutes later it burst into flames.

"The fire started in the dashboard and then spread to the rest of the car."

Crews extinguished the blaze using two hose reels, small tools and one set of breathing apparatus.

The road is partially blocked and traffic is slow as a result.

Eye witnesses in the area say no traffic is being permitted and that vehicles are being diverted via London Road.