GoinGreen, the UK distributor for the G-Wiz electric car, has had to recall 629 of them after a fault with the battery caused it to burst into flames.

The Vehicle Operating Standards Authority, which polices safety recalls, said the problem was traced to a heat sensor.

Those recalled will have a replacement heat-sensitive cut-out switch and a new fire retardant cover fitted at a service centre in Southall, West London.

Keith Johnston, GoinGreen managing director, said: "The recall was undertaken as a precautionary measure following a single incident of failure, where no one was injured."