A STOURPORT man's day went from bad to worse when his prized car caught fire and torched his designer clothes which he was taking to the launderette because his washing machine had broken down.

Firefighters said the Ford Probe caught fire in Wilden Lane, Stourport after its owner, a man in his 30s, turned the heater on.

He had just filled his car up with petrol and was on his way to the launderette when disaster struck.

Sub-officer Jim Richards of Kidderminster Fire Station said: "He was driving along and he put his heater on and that was it. It caught fire in the engine compartment.

"This car was his pride and joy. I think he was quite annoyed about his designer clothes, which were in the boot. He was taking them to the launderette because his washing machine had broken down."

The fire, which happened at 2.40pm on Wednesday of last week "gutted" the car and left it completely destroyed, said sub-officer Richards.