A family had a lucky escape when “acrid smoke” filled their car after the engine overheated on a main road near Telford.

The woman driver, her baby and three-year-old child were left stranded beside the A5 after their Fiat Coupe suffered a component failure.

The mother had no mobile phone but was helped by a passing ambulance crew who raised the alarm.

Firefighters attended the scene, eastbound between Shrewsbury and Cluddley, and put out a small engine fire using hoses and breathing apparatus.

All three passengers were taken by ambulance to Princess Royal Hospital, Telford, for checks.

Alan Wilson, sub officer at Wellington Fire Station, said: “It appears the car had overheated and acrid smoke filled the passenger compartment.”

Chris Kowalik, for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the car “was filled with smoke and there was a concern that the three-year-old had suffered smoke inhalation.

“Two crews from Shrewsbury Fire Station and two from Wellington Fire Station dealt with the blaze just after 9.30pm yesterday.

Elsewhere firefighters from Telford Central Fire Station were called to put out a car fire at Hollinsgate, in Telford town centre, just before 5pm yesterday.

In Madeley, firefighters from Tweedale Fire Station used a hose to put out a wheelie bin fire in an outbuilding at a property on Springhill Crescent at about 4.40pm yesterday.