A DRIVER had to escape from his car after the engine set on fire.

Firefighters were called to the M66 near Simister Island at about 1.45pm this afternoon after the Vauxhall Astra car became fully ablaze.

Luckily the young male driver had managed to pull into the inside lane of the roundabout and exit the vehicle before the flames fully took hold.

Crews arrived from Whitefield and put the blaze out before making the area safe.