The A1(M) was shut this morning after a van caught fire on the northbound carriageway.

The motorway was closed near Junction 6 for Welwyn after a Vauxhall Astra Envoy van caught alight on the hard shoulder just before 10.45am while heading towards Stevenage.

The male driver was already out of the van when emergency services arrived at the scene and is not believed to have been injured.

Two fire crews from Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City were called and had put out the blaze by 11.05am.

All lanes were reopened at 11.15am, but traffic is still being affected in both direction – after smoke travelling across the carriageway caused southbound motorists to slow.

It is the second fire on the same stretch of motorway in as many days after a car caught alight yesterday while travelling southbound.