A CAR caught fire while travelling along the M40 yesterday.

The driver heard 'strange noises' coming from the engine and then saw smoke coming out from under the bonnet before they were able to pull over on the hard shoulder at around 12.52pm between junctions 6 and 7. 

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue said its fire fighters brought the situation under control quickly and safely using high pressure hoses.

The northbound carriageway was closed for around 20 minutes due to the smoke and steam from the vehicle obscuring the carriageway.

Before the blaze fully took hold, the driver managed to get the car to the relative safety of the hard shoulder and got out and was  not injured in the incident. 

Oxford Mail:

Thames Valley Police and Highways England were also on scene and helped with the road closure and controlling the flow of traffic to ensure fire crews were able to operate.

Watch Manager Nick Windsor from Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, said “The driver of vehicle was very quick to react to the situation, bring the vehicle to the safety of the hard shoulder and thankfully no one sustained any injuries.

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"These incidents are rare but have the potential to be of a serious nature, drivers should ensure that they get their vehicles serviced regularly.

"Drivers passing this type of incident should also ensure that, where possible, they try to keep their distance from the scene”