Pictures show mayhem after lorry caught fire on A31 near Ringwood with smoke visible from Portsmouth
A large fire service response from Hampshire and other counties attended
Pictures shows the mayhem caused after a lorry caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday evening.
People were seen getting out of their vehicles with pets and children as the busy Hampshire road was brought to a standstill around 5.30pm following the incident eastbound.
Flames spread to the central reservation and then onto nearby heathland, with massive clouds of smoke seen in the sky and which were visible from Portsmouth.
Drivers were forced to abandon their cars and now have to find out from police when they can collect them. The stretch is a popular route for holidaymakers at this time of year with it connecting to areas such as Bournemouth, west Dorset and Salisbury.
Fire crews remained at the site over night and this morning to tackle the blaze. Fire crews from Gosport, Fareham, and Portchester were scrambled among others to the incident.
The road remains closed today. “The A31 in Hampshire remains closed in both directions between the M27 J2 Ower and the A338 Ringwood following a HGV fire,” National Highways said.