A14 closed as lorry loaded with straw catches fire

The fire broke out on the A14 near Bar Hill outside Cambridge

A major route was closed in both directions after a lorry and trailer carrying 50 tonnes of straw caught fire on the carriageway.

At 16:15 BST on Monday, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to an incident on the A14 near Bar Hill, outside Cambridge.

It said both the eastbound and westbound carriageways were closed while crews tackled the fire.

One lane eastbound has since been opened, National Highways said.

BBC reporter Matthew Webb, who saw the incident, said there were five fire engines from Cambridgeshire and a crew from Suffolk at the blaze.

A senior fire officer described it as a "complex incident"

The fire service said it could take several hours to extinguish the blaze

Station commander Paul Clarke said: "This is an incredibly complex incident involving approximately 50 tonnes of bailed straw completely engulfed in fire on the back of a lorry and trailer.

"We're very mindful of the impact this is having and are working closely with police and National Highways to resolve this incident as quickly as we can."

He said a recovery truck was on standby as soon as the fire was out, but said that could take "several hours".

Motorists have been advised to avoid the area.

Traffic was being turned around at the site of the fire

It was the second time on Monday that crews tackled a fire on the A14 in Cambridgeshire.

Earlier a van fire caused tailbacks as thick, black smoke drifted over the carriageway between Swavesey and Ermine Street.