The A1(M) has finally re-opened after a lorry caught fire in the early hours of Friday morning in County Durham.
Dramatic images captured at the scene show the size of the flames which engulfed the HGV. The fire started around 1.30am between J58 and J59 on the outskirts of Darlington, near Newton Aycliffe.
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Luckily, the driver of the vehicle escaped unharmed. Emergency services attended the incident where they found the white Scania Tractor ablaze on the hard shoulder.
The road closed around 2am and drivers were forced to find alternative routes. The road re-opened just after 1pm on Friday afternoon as the lorry needed to be cut in half for recovery purposes.
All the cones have now been removed. However, there is up to two miles on congestion in the area and drivers should take extra time for their journey.
A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Reports of a trailer on fire on the A1 near junction 59 came into CDDFRS control at 01:39, Friday, 10 th June. Crews from Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor and Darlington are in attendance. Crews are working to extinguish the fire using 3 breathing apparatus and two hoses. The incident is ongoing.”
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: "Police were called at around 1.45am this morning (June 10) to reports of a vehicle on fire on the A1M, between junction 58 and 59.
"It involved a white Scania Tractor which was ablaze on the hard shoulder.
"Officers were joined by colleagues at fire and the highways agency. Thankfully, nobody was injured in the incident."
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