"Car catches fire at a safari park": It's not the kind of event you're likely to be covered for in a standard breakdown repair insurance policy – it being the kind of situation that only trained park rangers can bring to a safe conclusion.

This was a turn of events facing one family, whose vehicle burst into flames as they passed through the famous Longleat Safari Park.

Helen Clements and her two children were brought to safety by a park ranger after they raised the alarm by honking their horn.

What was meant to be a fun and educational Easter weekend excursion turned terrifying when the family's car caught fire in the lion enclosure.

Speaking to the BBC, Helen Clements said, "It could have been in the flamingos or the camels but no, it had to be in the lion enclosure."

At first the family thought there was steam coming out of the engine, but they soon realised it was actually smoke and flames.

Ms Clements was praised by Longleat staff for remaining in her car and beeping her horn in order to get attention. Alarmed by the smoke, her young son did open his door, but park rangers quickly told him: "Get back in the car. Do not get out of the car."

While lions obviously pose a serious threat to humans, on this occasion the staff said that they "weren't that interested in what was going on anyway".

Clements said the park rangers "were fantastic. They came straight away. As [the ranger] opened the door we just jumped into his vehicle, and they took us away and got it all sorted out."

"You look at the funny side of it now," said Clements.