WHY TESLA TYCOON IS SELLING £400 FLAME THROWERS

ELON Musk has a hot new idea to fund his tunnel-digging company – selling flamethrowers.

The devices, sold for £355 each, have already netted the eccentric founder of electric car maker Tesla £2.5m after roughly 7,000 were ordered in a day. Thousands more are thought to have sold since.

The cash would help bankroll the activities of his firm The Boring Company, which proposes alternatives to travelling by road in highly congested Los Angeles.

It has suggested cars could descend from ground level on moving platforms that would whisk them across the city underground. Musk (pictured), said a limited run of 20,000 flamethrowers would be available, meaning £7.1m could be raised in total.

They are legal in 48 of the 50 states. Musk, 46, suggested uses included roasting nuts or caramelising a creme brulee. He said: ‘The Boring Company flamethrower, guaranteed to liven up any party!’

For the safety-conscious, the firm is also selling ‘overpriced’ fire extinguishers for £21.30 each.