Only after the car had been blown up did it emerge that the vehicle had been parked outside Workington police station by other officers who had helped the owner who had been taken ill.

The area around the police station in Workington was cordoned off and evacuated to allow the bomb squad to carry out a controlled explosion after “an internal communications error”.

Inspector Ashley Bennett said: “We have made contact with the owner of the vehicle, explained the situation and have apologised to him.

“The officers who dealt with this morning’s incident did so with public safety in mind and followed the appropriate procedures in respect to an unoccupied suspicious vehicle.

“The constabulary will review this incident and will take on board any learning.”