One side of the M25 had to be closed yesterday as firefighters wearing breathing apparatus battled a blazing van whose fuel tank had split.
Four lanes on the eastbound side of the motorway had to be closed between junction 9, to Leatherhead, and junction 8 at about 3.44pm.
A Leatherhead fire station spokesman said: "The fuel tank spilt and there was fuel running across the motorway.
"The danger was fuel running down the road so they needed to stop that going any further."
Three fire engines were involved in tackling the fire, which destroyed the transit van but no one was reported hurt.
He said: "Foam works better on fuel fires because it smothers the fire."
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