Van full of tyres catches fire in car park

Part of a car park has been cordoned off after a van full of tyres was burnt out in an overnight blaze.

The fire happened in Harding Street car park, behind Sheppard Street in Swindon, at about 03:00 BST.

No-one was injured and the cause of the fire is unknown, according to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

A spokesperson for the service said the two crews it sent to the incident were able to stop the flames from spreading to nearby homes before leaving the scene at about 05:00.

Andy Hilton lives nearby and said he arrived home late to the sound of a "popping" noise.

"We heard a bang but didn't think much of it," he said. "Then we got around the corner and saw all the smoke and the van."

The van's cab was severely damaged in the fire

The fire took place near several properties, including a sheltered living complex.

Sam Ellis was staying in a nearby AirBnb for work and was woken up by a colleague who had spotted the fire.

"We all went to the window and saw the van was all in flames," he said.

"I don't know how it started or anything like that, it just seems to have suddenly caught fire."

People reported hearing a "bang" and a "popping" noise before seeing the fire

The Harding Street car park is open but the area around the van has been cordoned off by police with piles of tyres and broken glass littering the scene.

A fire service spokesperson said it sent one appliance from Swindon and one from Westlea.

"Four breathing apparatus wearers used three hose-reel jets to extinguish the fire, and thermal imaging equipment was used to check an adjacent property due to some light smoke issuing from the front of the property," they added.

Wiltshire Police said enquiries into the incident are ongoing.