Blaze destroys van and causes long delays on A31 at Minstead

A VAN was destroyed in a blaze which blocked a stretch of the A31 at Minstead yesterday (Monday) morning.

Police warned motorists about delays of up to an hour on the westbound carriageway between Stoney Cross and Picket Post.

The alarm was raised around 11.10am, with twenty 999 calls made while flames from the vehicle spread on to a nearby grass verge, causing a large plume of smoke.

Firefighters from Redbridge and Eastleigh, helped by a specialist water carrier vehicle and breathing apparatus, spent more than an hour battling to contain the emergency on the hard shoulder.

One lane was then reopened, but delays of over half an hour from the M27 at Cadnam continued until the other was cleared by around 2.15pm.