A mother woke up in the middle of the night in Stanley in time to call the fire brigade about a large car fire outside her house.

Kim Edwards, 37, woke up at 2am after finally settling her baby down to sleep to see the abandoned car outside her house engulfed in flames.

She worries that if she hadn't woken up and heard the explosion it might have set the property on fire.

Pictures from the scene on Parmeter Street, Stanley, show how large the fire was and how close it was to the family home.

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Kim said: "The car was reported to the council on August 8 and it had already been broken into, there was glass everywhere.

"The man from the council said it was taxed so they couldn't move it.

"He did leave a not on it and said that they would get the street cleaners to clear the glass.

"I just can't believe someone would do that when it is so close to the side of the house.

"I was just dozing off after settling my five month old baby and this massive bang woke me back up.

The Northern Echo: Car fire in Stanley

"I thought I heard firework crackles in the distance initially and then there was a slightly bigger pop before the explosion.

"They could have killed us. 

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"I just think what could have happened if we were all fast asleep.

"Whoever did it is the lowest of the low. You could have killed my child."

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and Durham Police have been contacted for more details.