Residents of a sleepy Somerset parish awoke on Monday, May 22, to discover the remains of a burn out car abandoned in a gateway.

Local residents found the destroyed car on Hill Lane, in the parish of Raddington, a few hundred metres from the Church of St Michael.

The car, which one resident speculated was a Mini Cooper, appeared to have been completely destroyed by flames.

The inferno also caused damage to hedges around the gateway in which the car was left.

The gate was seen dismantled from the post, laying on the ground behind the vehicle. It is unclear if the car collided with and then dislodged the gate from its post.

Residents reported that the car had not been spotted on Sunday when they passed the site, leading to speculation that it was aflame in the early hours of Monday morning.

It is not known at this time whether the vehicle was stolen or if the fire was an arson attack.

The police have been approached for comment.