A FAMILY’S dream cruise holiday was tarnished when their car burst into flames just minutes into their journey home.

John Brace, his partner Pat Watson and her daughter Justine Hogan were travelling along Palmerston Road on Friday morning when smoke began gushing from the bonnet of their Ford Mondeo.

The family, who had just returned from a 17 day cruise around the Mediterranean, were forced to evacuate the car and watch in horror as flames engulfed the front of the vehicle.

Fire crews arrived shortly before 9.30am and quickly extinguished the blaze.

However the family, from Essex, were left stranded on the side of the road with all of their luggage.

They then waited over an hour for a taxi to drive them the rest of their 125 mile journey home.

Describing the incident, Mr Brace, 72, said: “We were driving up the road when I lost power to the engine and so I just pulled over.

“We couldn’t see the smoke because it was under the car but the guy behind me was beeping like mad.

“We got out of the car and saw all of the smoke and we quickly got our luggage out and got away.

“There were flames coming out of the side and under the bonnet.”

Mrs Hogan added: “I’ve never seen that much smoke in my life.”

The incident took place just hours after the family had arrived at Southampton to end their 17 day holiday.

Travelling on P&O’s, The Ventura, the family had just finished a calming cruise around the Mediterranean, stopping in places such as Scilly, Rhodes and Mykonos.

Mr Brace, a maintenance engineer, said: “It was a good holiday. We enjoyed it.”

While on their travels, the family’s Mondeo was left at a car park near to the docks.

After departing the cruise ship, the family retrieved the vehicle and began their two-and-a-half hour journey back to their home in Hullbridge, Essex.

However, just minutes into the journey, the car caught fire.

Mr Brace said: “It’s annoying but it hasn’t ruined our holiday.

“It’s just one of those things that happens.”

The family said the incident occurred just weeks after Mr Brace’s tool van was stolen from his driveway.

He added: “I’m not shocked. Nothing can shock me really at the moment.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said the service were called to the scene at 9.20am yesterday.

One crew from St Mary’s Fire Station attended, using breathing apparatus and a pressurised hose.

The road was closed while firefighters battled the blaze, which was extinguished at 9.47am.

Firefighters had not determined the cause of the fire at the time of publication.