A14 van fire causes road damage and diesel spill

Emergency repairs have been carried out on the A14 following a van fire which caused significant damage to the road surface.

The westbound carriageway was closed for several hours yesterday evening between junction three at Rothwell and junction two for Kelmarsh after the blaze, which also led to a substantial diesel spill.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at around 5.10pm and crews arrived to find the vehicle fully alight on the junction two exit slip road.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose-reel jets to extinguish the flames.

Northamptonshire Police closed the carriageway while the incident was dealt with, with firefighters remaining at the scene to dampen down hotspots.

Crews returned to their stations at around 6.45pm, with responsibility for the scene then handed over to National Highways for repairs to the damaged road surface.

The carriageway has since reopened following completion of the emergency works.