The A1(M) was shut southbound this morning after a car caught fire.

The Comet: The burnt out car on the hard shoulder of the A1(M). Picture: @roadpoliceBCH via Twitter.The burnt out car on the hard shoulder of the A1(M). Picture: @roadpoliceBCH via Twitter. (Image: Archant)

Police were alerted by the fire service just after 7.45am of a grey Citroen C4 being alight just past Junction 6 for Welwyn.

The driver was said to be out of the car as emergency services arrived at the scene and is not believed to have been injured.

A crew from Stevenage and Welwyn had put out the fire by 8.20am, with the incident being treated as accidental.

All three lanes near to Junction 6 were initially closed, before lanes two and three reopened at 8.15am.

The inside lane was reopen by 8.40am, according to a police spokesman.