RESIDENTS have spoken of their horror that a body has been found in a burnt out car in their neighbourhood.

Police have launched an investigation after a man's body was found in a vehicle in a car park at Cross Lane Park, Partington.

Emergency services attended and found the body after reports that a car had exploded and was on fire, just before 7.50pm last night.

A resident from the area told Messenger he saw the car in flames and later heard it explode.

The man, who does not want to be named, said he saw light flickering through the glass door in his kitchen.

He said: "I opened the back door and saw the car on fire."

Then he closed the door and later heard an explosion, followed by a second one.

He said: "All of a sudden it went boom, then about 10 minutes later there was another bang."

His wife said of this happening on their doorstep: "We are shocked. I feel scared, it is frightening.

"There are cars coming and going here at 12 o'clock at night."

Her husband said he had at first thought it was a stolen car that had been torched.

Another neighbour said: "It is upsetting, but it can happen anywhere."

Inspector Peter Coates, of GMP’s Trafford borough, said: “We were called to reports of a car explosion and on attendance emergency services found a body in the car.

“We are still unclear on exactly what has happened however we will be carrying out enquiries this evening and through the night to establish the circumstances surrounding this person’s death.

“I would ask that anybody who thinks they may have information that can assist our enquiries contacts the police.”

Anybody with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2037 of 08/11/17, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.