ALMOST a quarter of a million Zafira MPVs are being recalled by Vauxhall after more than 100 of them have burst into flames.

Owners are being advised to contact local dealers to have their vehicles checked for possible defects in the heating system.

In an unprecedented move, Vauxhall chairman Rory Harvey posted a YouTube video apologising for the failures and saying the company is continuing its investigations into the causes of the fires.

He said that some 220,000 letters would be sent to owners of Zafira B models in the next few days asking them to have their vehicles inspected at Vauxhall garages, adding that any rectification work would be carried out free of charge.

The models affected were made between 2005 and 2014. Zafiras built before 2005 are not involved and neither is the Zafira Sport.

Mr Harvey said that preliminary investigations carried out by a specialist task force Vauxhall set up after the outbreak of the fires had discovered improper repairs had been carried out on the cars' blower system.

He added that only vehicles fitted with manual air conditioning or a conventional heater were affected.

"We are very sorry that this situation has arisen and as safety is our key priority that we have been investigating this issue very thoroughly and with the utmost urgency," said Mr Harvey.

In the video Mr Harvey goes on to say that owners who have had Zafira B models from new and have never needed repair work on their heater systems were not at risk.

Further investigations were being carried out but in the meantime owners of all Zafira Bs were being asked to have their vehicles checked.

The company has set up an online advice service at www/vauxhall.co.uk/zafiracustomeradvice.html. Owners can also email vauxhall.customerassistance@vauxhall.co.uk for further information or call the Vauxhall customer assistance centre on 0800 026 0034.

Vauxhall first received reports of fires in Zafiras during the summer when it was understood some 20 vehicles had inexplicably burst into flames.

However, the scale of the issue grew after a Facebook campaign set up by three mothers whose cars had caught fire with their children inside attracted responses from more than 130 others who had had their cars destroyed in blazes.