Fire crews from across Hertfordshire were called to a lorry blaze on the A1(M) near Stevenage this afternoon.

Crews from Stevenage, Welwyn, Hatfield and Letchworth & Baldock responeded to 22 repeat calls of a lorry on fire on the southbound carriageway between Junction 8 for Stevenage and Junction 9 for Letchworth Gate at 1.19pm.

The 3.5 tonne vehicle was well alight on the hard shoulder when they arrived at the scene with breathing apparatus and a hose reel used to extinguish the blaze.

The fire was put out and crews stood down at 1.55pm.

One lane was closed while the fire was extinguished but this has now reopened.

The Comet: A 3.5 tonne lorry caught fire on the A1(M) this afternoon. Picture: Twitter @roadpoliceBCHA 3.5 tonne lorry caught fire on the A1(M) this afternoon. Picture: Twitter @roadpoliceBCH (Image: Archant)

The Comet: A 3.5 tonne lorry caught fire on the A1(M) this afternoon. Picture: Twitter @roadpoliceBCHA 3.5 tonne lorry caught fire on the A1(M) this afternoon. Picture: Twitter @roadpoliceBCH (Image: Archant)