SEVERAL cars caught fire at Knox shopping centre this afternoon but nobody was injured.

A CFA spokeswoman said the fire started in an LPG-fuelled vehicle and spread to surrounding cars in the centre’s car park.

She said the cause appeared to be a mechanical fault, which would be investigated.

CFA units from Bayswater, Boronia, Ferntree Gully and Scoresby attended after the CFA was called to the scene just after 1.30.

Knox CFA deputy group officer Peter Shaw said there was no one in any of the vehicles at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.

Mr Shaw said a CFA gas-flare truck was needed to burn off the remaining gas in the LPG cylinder The fire was extinguished by 2.30.