Police are investigating the cause of a fire which engulfed a car in the parking area of the BP garage in Four Marks on January 11.

A witness to the incident at the 24-hour petrol station on the A31 Winchester Road said: “The car went up in flames at around 9.05pm, and the fire brigade turned up pretty quickly.

“The staff were evacuated and the garage was shut for a couple of hours or more while the fire was put out and the police and fire brigade investigated. It reopened after the car had been taken away and everything was cleared, probably around midnight.”

The police were called to the incident at 9.28pm. Anyone with information should call the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on 101, quoting crime reference number 44260015547.

Corey Howard - who posted a picture of the blaze on Facebook - said: “I can think of safer places to have a fire.”

The Herald approached the BP national press office for comment, but was asked to contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, “who are leading on this matter”.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue was also approached for comment, but none had been received at the time of going to press.

The fire occurred some distance from the pumps but there was a risk of a larger fire or explosion because even at very low temperatures petrol emits highly flammable vapours that can ignite if they come into contact with a heat source.

Another BP garage, in Lee-on-the-Solent, was hit by fire on December 4. That blaze affected the pump between two cars but firefighters put it out before it could spread.

Andrew Perry, commenting on that incident on Facebook, said: “The staff in the petrol station just need to press one button and the fuel supply is cut off and the tanks self-seal until reset.”