A police car answering an emergency call burst into flames after a collision with another car.

The Ford police car had its lights on but was not using a siren when the two cars collided in Walton Street, Oxford.

Police at first denied there had been a fire, or that a fire engine had been sent to the accident, but said the panda car had continued to its destination.

In fact, the accident on Friday night caused a fire in the engine of the patrol car, which the officers put out with an extinguisher.

Frank Stringer, manager of Jericho Books, said: "I heard a really loud bang.

"I went outside and the policemen were staggering out of their car. Then the engine caught fire.

"People were coming out of the shops and pubs all along the road."

The two officers and the driver of the Audi A4 had minor whiplash injuries and were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital. The road was closed for two hours.