M74 Shut By Lorry Fire

The M74 has been closed in both directions after an articulated lorry carrying highly flammable ethanol caught fire.

The driver managed to stop the vehicle and get out of the cab uninjured after the fire broke out as he travelled north on the M74 at around 10.25am today.

The flames spread to the road, which police said was well ablaze at the scene in South Lanarkshire.

Fire crews are at the scene and a specialist recovery team has been called in to remove the ethanol.

The road has been closed in both directions northbound at junction 12 and southbound at junction nine, police said.

There were no reports of any injuries.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue spokesman said: Crews were sent to the incident on the northbound carriageway between J11 Happendon and J10 Lesmahagow in response to a 999 call received shortly before 10.25am.

Appliances were initially mobilised from Lesmahagow, Larkhall and Douglas and firefighters arrived around six minutes later to find the large goods vehicle well alight on the hard shoulder.

A fourth appliance from Lanark and the environmental protection unit from Hamilton have also been sent to increase the resources available at the scene.

There are no reports of any injuries however the fire is producing large amounts of smoke and the motorway has been closed in both directions. There are no homes in the vicinity.''