A truck full of tarmac set alight on Cheam Common Road this morning.

Two vans containing workmen were heading towards road works on Central Road in Worcester Park when one of the drivers noticed the tarmac in front was smoking more than usual.

He alerted his work colleague who was driving yards in front of him, but whose van contained two very explosive LPG containers.

When the drivers pulled over outside the North End Tavern at about 1am, they saw a barrel of tarmac alight.

Fire crews arrived to find the rear of the truck engulfed in flames and had to act quickly to avoid the canisters exploding.

Benjamin Adolphe, crew manager from Sutton said: "The cylinders were getting very warm so we had to get water on them as fast as possible to cool them down."

"The two 25kg LPG canisters carried a big risk, but thankfully we got there in time - but it was quite hairy at one point."

Did you see anything? Do you have any pictures? Contact jpepper@london.newsquest.co.uk on twitter @JPtheSuttonG