M4 closed after campervan fire

Part of the M4 was closed off yesterday after a campervan carrying a gas canister caught fire.

The driver pulled his VW campervan onto the hard shoulder of the westbound carriageway between junctions 8/9 and 10 after spotting the vehicle was alight.

Three fire engines from Maidenhead Slough and Wokingham Road were called just after 10pm to put out the fire as quickly as possible to prevent the gas canister from exploding in the heat.

The potential danger meant police had to close the whole carriageway for an hour while firefighters set to work.

Maidenhead blue watch manager Miles Cooper said: "We used a hose reel and jet and dry powder which is very quick to knock the flames down."

It is thought the fire was caused by a fault in the fuel system.The driver was unhurt.
The road was later reopened.