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A person has been injured after an air freshener sparked an explosion inside a parked car.

The explosion blew the roof and doors off a Ford Focus left in the car park of a B&Q store in Essex, according to the Southend Echo.

The blast happened when fumes from an aerosol air freshener were ignited by a cigarette, a spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service told the BBC.

Witnesses described hearing a “very loud bang” before staff at the DIY store rushed to help the victim.

One wrote on Twitter: “Just missed witnessing car explosion near Southend. Very loud bang. Ford Focus doors, windscreen, roof blown out. B&Q staff rushing to help.”

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The explosion happened around 12.15pm today.

One person, whose gender is unknown, was taken to hospital with minor injuries, a spokesman for East of England Ambulance Service said.