Mercedes goes up in smoke

HAMILTON: A high performance Mercedes Benz AMG sports car went up in smoke after its interior was burnt out by a stray firework that fell through an open window on Guy Fawkes Day.

Claire Andrews said she was shocked to discover her car ‘‘cooked’’ on the street in Kihikihi, south of Hamilton, on Monday night.

Ms Andrews and her family had earlier enjoyed the Guy Fawkes festivities by setting off their own fireworks before relaxing in their backyard.

But a short time later, older children playing near an 2.5m fence that separated the house from the road where the car was parked suddenly shouted: ‘‘Aunty Claire, your car’s on fire’’.

Ms Andrews’ first reaction was to jokingly scoff at them.

But when they insisted she come over, she found the back seat of her Mercedes on fire.

‘‘I couldn’t believe my eyes,’’ she said.

‘‘It is an older Mercedes AMG, but it is a very nice car.’’

The fire torched the fabric on the car’s back seats and roof lining and left the dashboard and steering wheel a charred mess.

She did not know where the fireworks came from but it was not from her family.