A businessman watched in disbelief as he prized sports car burst into flames on the motorway.

Patipan Wanthongkham, 36, was driving his Lotus Elise in Bangkok, Thailand, last Sunday (23/02) morning.

But flames began pouring from the rear engine of the four million Baht (100,000GBP) yellow, two-seat vehicle.

Patipan said he looked through the car rear view mirror and panicked when he noticed smoke coming from the car.

He said: ''I could smell smoke then when I looked, the fire was coming from my car. I stopped and jumped out as quickly as I could.''

Patipan pulled over and tried to open the car's trunk, where the engine is, but it was too hot.

He struggled to yank open the hood but could not put out the flames, so he grabbed his girlfriend Sansanee Jongwilaiporn, 33, and ran away from the burning car.

While they were stood watching as their car was engulfed in flames, the firefighters arrived with the paramedic team who gave them first aid and took them to the hospital.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jongsak Chansri later came to investigate the scene said he will move the car to the station for the examination.

He said: "We will move the car ruin from the road and will examine it to find the cause of the ignition."