Motorist tells how e-cig he left on charge 'exploded out of socket and set fire to his car'

A motorist has described how an e-cigarette wrecked his car - after it exploded and caught fire on his back seat.

Chris Thomas said his e-cig shot out of a 12V power socket 'like a firework' while charging and landed on the back seat, setting fire to the interior.

Flames destroyed the rear seat and a child seat, scorched the front headrests and visors and left all the windows badly smoke-blackened.

The liquid from the popular £29.99 'Vapouriz Tank' is thought to have leaked and caught fire in the explosion.

Vehicle inspector Chris had left the device charging overnight in the 12V power socket of his company-owned Skoda Superb.

Father-of-three Chris, 37, said: 'The car alarm went off in the early hours of the morning so I went out and saw there was no one around and clicked it off and went back to bed.

'I got up about an hour later for work and when I went out to the car I found everything burned out.

'The cigarette had been charging in the front point and it's as if it went off like a firework. Even the front visors are burnt through.

'I can't believe what happened. When I told my partner she was shocked. What if it was in the house charging and had gone off inside?

'God knows what would have happened then, or if it had gone off when we were driving and I’ve got children inside the car.'

Chris, from Maesycwmmer, South Wales, has not been told how much it will cost to repair the damage to the year-old estate car but the bill could run into thousands.

He started smoking e-cigarettes four months ago in an attempt to kick his 40-a-day habit.

He is one of 1.3 million Brits who have taken up the devices in recent years and opted for the 'Vapouriz Tank' which is topped up using a liquid.

The firm's website warns users not to leave the cigarettes unattended as they charge up, which can take around four hours.

Chris said he was packing up the tobacco alternative after the fire, which follows two other incidents with another e-cig brand.

He added: 'I used to be a heavy smoker but I’ve not touched a cigarette for four months since I tried these.

'I know a lot of people who smoke and I’ve told them about the electronic cigarette. The product is excellent, but the thought of it blowing up is terrifying.

[Related: Obama said he quit cigarettes for fear of his wife]

'It is supposed to be the best in the market so what are the cheaper ones like? The whole situation has scared me.

'They are meant to be the saviour but when you see the see the state of the car it makes you wonder what chemicals are inside them.

'I was getting the smoking hit and they were a good price but now I'm warning everyone I know about them. I want people to realise they can be dangerous.

No one from Vapouriz was available for comment.