A FIREFIGHTER had to abandon his engine and race to a blaze on foot because a Worcester street was so congested with cars.

Mother-of-three Prabhjot Virk had dialled 999 twice while her family watched their flat fill with thick black smoke.

Two engines from Droitwich and Worcester were stuck in Northfield Street in the Arboretum as rows of double-parked cars made it impossible for them to reach the fire at Virk MS Grocers.

Mrs Virk raised the alarm after a candle in the bathroom above her shop melted on to its plastic container and set fire to a cabinet.

Smoke engulfed the living area and, after an unsuccessful attempt by her eldest son to reach the blaze, she and her husband endured an anxious wait with their two teenage children until crews arrived at the scene.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie blamed the lines of double-parked cars in the narrow street for what might have been "a fatal accident" on Wednesday night.

He revealed that a firefighter had raced to the family on foot ahead of the appliance.

"We tried to get to the scene as quickly as possible but just couldn't get through," he said.

"In the end, the appliance from Droitwich had to go all around the Arboretum to get in."

Visitors staying with the Virks had lit the candle to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light.

"We were working in the shop downstairs when we realised what was happening," she said.

"We shut the doors to stop the thick black smoke which was pouring out of the upstairs rooms.

"When the fire brigade didn't show up we called again to see where they were. We were afraid the fire would spread and reach the shop."

Mrs Virk said the parking problem had grown worse over the years.

"The Arboretum was never built for cars," the 43-year-old said. "We have been waiting for the council to do something for years.

A FIREFIGHTER had to abandon his engine and race to a blaze on foot because a Worcester street was so congested with cars.

Mother-of-three Prabhjot Virk had dialled 999 twice while her family watched their flat fill with thick black smoke.

Two engines from Droitwich and Worcester were stuck in Northfield Street in the Arboretum as rows of double-parked cars made it impossible for them to reach the fire at Virk MS Grocers.

Mrs Virk raised the alarm after a candle in the bathroom above her shop melted on to its plastic container and set fire to a cabinet.

Smoke engulfed the living area and, after an unsuccessful attempt by her eldest son to reach the blaze, she and her husband endured an anxious wait with their two teenage children until crews arrived at the scene.

Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade spokesman Alec Mackie blamed the lines of double-parked cars in the narrow street for what might have been "a fatal accident" on Wednesday night.

He revealed that a firefighter had raced to the family on foot ahead of the appliance.

"We tried to get to the scene as quickly as possible but just couldn't get through," he said.

"In the end, the appliance from Droitwich had to go all around the Arboretum to get in."

Visitors staying with the Virks had lit the candle to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Light.

"We were working in the shop downstairs when we realised what was happening," she said.

"We shut the doors to stop the thick black smoke which was pouring out of the upstairs rooms.

"When the fire brigade didn't show up we called again to see where they were. We were afraid the fire would spread and reach the shop."

Mrs Virk said the parking problem had grown worse over the years.

"The Arboretum was never built for cars," the 43-year-old said. "We have been waiting for the council to do something for years.