11:34am Thursday 29th July 2010
By Louise Robertson
Kingston Crown Court security staff jumped into action on Wednesday, July 28, when they spotted a burning car at the back entrance to the court and feared it was a bomb.
It was actually a family car that had burst into flames, and firefighters were quick to the scene in The Bittoms.
Jade Templeman, 19, who was in the red Audi with her mum and eight-year-old sister when it started smoking said: "A cloud of smoke came out then flames came out then flames started coming out from underneath and then from the bonnet.
"My sister ran and hid round the corner because she though it was going to blow up. All the court people came out and were helping us because they thought it was a bomb."
She said the car was a write-off,and the inside of the engine was completely burnt out.
A member of court security said: "At the end of the day we've got to treat it seriously. It's not a case of thinking it's definitely a bomb but it's a court used for terrorist cases and you don't know what it is at first. I was ready to throw myself on the bonnet."
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