ONE of Comet country’s major transport arteries was blocked last night (Sunday) after an ambulance responding to an emergency call caught fire.

The blaze on the A1(M) took place at Junction 10, near Baldock, and fire crews were scrambled from Biggleswade, Letchworth GC and Hitchin, to fight the fire at around 10.20PM.

The southbound carriageway, from Biggleswade, was closed by Bedfordshire Police at 11.00PM however the northbound road remained open.

It is unclear what caused the fire at present, but the East of England Ambulance Service say they are investigating.

Ambulance service spokesman, Gary Sanderson, who attended the incident said: “First and foremost this must have been very traumatic incident for the crew to deal with.

“Their quick thinking no doubt saved any injuries to themselves and other road users.

“They were able to park the vehicle in a safe place and alert on coming traffic of the situation.”

Paramedics were on route to a 999 call in Dunton, Bedfordshire, and whilst the ambulance was travelling on the northbound carriageway past Astwick, the crew noticed smoke issuing from the front of the vehicle.

The vehicle, which was carrying oxygen tanks, was gutted in the blaze, and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue say the fire was extinguished at roughly 00.35 on Monday morning.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said that normal service was resumed on the motorway at 2.40am.

No-one was injured in the fire.