A TEENAGER was so shaken when his car suddenly burst into flames that he has been unable to leave his home since.

Zac Elogab, 19, had just returned from a shopping trip with his sister, Nadia, and her four-year-old daughter, Poppy, before the incident.

His family say they want to warn other Suzuki drivers as the firm had not advised them the vehicle was subject to a recall.

The company disputes this, claiming Zac was contacted twice about potential problems with his Suzuki Swift.

Zac, of Creech St Michael, said: "I've been shaken up by it and haven't left the house since - it was a horrific experience.

"Driving home we smelt smoke, but thought it was from outside.

"Then when I parked up, there was a big fire under the parcel shelf coming from the boot.

"If it had been on the motorway, I wouldn't have been able to stop."

He added he was unaware Suzuki had issued a recall notice for the model of car due to a fire risk.

His vehicle was written off in the blaze on Sunday, September 3.

Zac's father, Osama, phoned Suzuki afterwards and was told the company had no record of its Swift models catching fire.

"They didn't mention the recall - a local garage told me about the recall. When I called Suzuki back they said I hadn't asked them about a recall," said Mr Elogab.

"It was a traumatic experience for Zac and he called me at the time screaming down the phone.

"I want other people to know about the danger and the recall."

A Suzuki spokesman said the vehicle was subject to a voluntary recall check and the customer was twice contacted with advice to take it to the local dealer.

The spokesman added: "However, the vehicle had not been taken to a dealer for the recall to be carried out.

"Suzuki customer services have replayed the telephone call of September 4 from the customer who had not asked if the vehicle was involved in a recall.

"Safety is of the utmost importance to Suzuki and should a vehicle recall ever be necessary, it co-operates with the Driving Vehicle Standards Agency.

"The DVSA are satisfied that Suzuki have taken effective measures to instruct the customer of this recall."