A witness has described the 'terrifying' moment a lorry went up in flames on the A35.

Emergency services were called to the area between Monkey’s Jump, Dorchester, and Winterbourne Abbas shortly before 2.30pm yesterday.

A lorry carrying hay caught fire, closing the road in both directions for the rest of the day.

Diversions were put in place at Poundbury and there was slow traffic from North Rew Lane to Bradford Peverell.

Jeremy Cole, 61, of Purlands Farm, was working in his yard when he says he heard an explosion. Unsure of the cause, he went to his balcony to check.

“I heard another two to three explosions,” he said. “Then saw a massive amount of smoke and about five trees ignited. I thought ‘oh my God, this is terrifying’. It’s been so dry and crisp it could’ve easily spread.”

Jeremy ran to the road and began to move some of the straw away from the fields. “I had to kick it onto the road as if it got onto the field it would spread,” he said. “It was scary, but the fire service got there very quickly and brought it under control pretty fast. I just hope everyone involved was ok. This time of year can be scary as it's so dry a fire can spread."

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service sent two crews from Dorchester as well as crews from Bere Regis, Portland, Bridport, Beaminster and Weymouth, together with a small 4x4 appliance from Maiden Newton and a water carrier from Yeovil.

A DWFRS spokesman said: “We were called to the A35 just past Monkey’s Jump at 2.29pm for a lorry on fire. We have crews in attendance from Dorchester (x2), Bere Regis, Portland, Bridport, Beaminster and Weymouth, together with a small 4x4 appliance from Maiden Newton and a water carrier from Yeovil, as we are working hard to prevent the fire spreading into the adjacent woodland.

“The road is closed and will be for considerable time.”

Dorset Police also attended to help with road closures.

Eastbound traffic was advised to take the A3066 through Melplash, Beaminster and Moserton to Misterton before turning right onto the A356 at the A356/A3066 junction. Motorists were then diverted through Toller Down Gate, Rampisham Down to Frampton and onto the A37 before rejoining the A35 at Poundbury.