A CAMPAIGN started by Ivybridge mum Sue Freemantle has led to a recall of hundreds of thousands of cars that may be at risk of bursting into flames.

Vauxhall has announced that it will be writing to the owners of 220,000 Zafira B models, asking them to visit a dealer for an inspection of their car’s heating and ventilation system.

The company says it will replace any suspect parts free, and if a part is not available and the vehicle has to be left with the dealer it will ‘consider customers’ onward mobility requirements’.

Vauxhall’s investigations have blamed ‘improper repair’ of a blower motor resistor and its thermal fuse for the spate of fires.

But it says further analysis is continuing to verify the root cause of the many fires that have been reported.

A Facebook page started by Sue has seen hundreds of Zafira B owners recounting their own horrifying tales.

In September, Sue’s 2007 Vauxhall Zafira was parked on the driveway of her home in Ivybridge when she noticed smoke and steam coming from the left hand side of the dashboard and making the windscreen mist up.

Sue, who was in the car with three of her children, as well as her cousin and her daughter, quickly released her son’s car seat and got the rest of the children out.

The family then watched in horror as the car was engulfed by flames in a matter of minutes.

Unimpressed by Vauxhall’s response to her initial complaints, Sue commented on the company’s Facebook page. From there, she was contacted by others telling a similar story, and decided to begin the campaign to have the problems looked into by Vauxhall.

The company has recently released a Youtube video in which its chairman and managing director Rory Harvey speaks directly to affected customers. Mr Harvey explains the latest news on the investigation into the problems, and what action is being taken.

The company says it has ‘taken this issue very seriously’.

Customers can find further information on Zafira fires and clear advice on how to identify the cars affected at: www.vauxhall.co.uk/zafiracustomeradvice.html.

Customers can also email [email protected] for further information or call the Customer Assistance Centre on 0800 026 0034.