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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jon Brady

'Fireball' on M8 as traffic at standstill after car explodes into flames

A Scots motorway was closed after a car dramatically burst into flames earlier on Tuesday.

The hatchback caught fire shortly before 10am on the eastbound carriageway of the M8 between junctions five and six at Shotts.

Emergency services raced to the scene and closed the trunk road - linking Glasgow and Edinburgh - for almost an hour while they tackled the blaze.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the blaze, though the vehicle has been destroyed.

Dramatic video footage shared on social media showed the vehicle well ablaze on the hard shoulder of the motorway east of Glasgow.

Eyewitnesses suggested the heat was so intense it could be felt from inside passing cars.

The road has since re-opened but traffic monitors have warned drivers to take care.

Traffic Scotland said on Twitter shortly before 11am: "#M8 Eastbound Junction 6 - Junction 5 Salsburgh, both lanes now running.

"Approach with care, traffic remains heavy in the area."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a vehicle fire on the M8 between junctions five and six at 9.49am.

"We sent one appliance to the scene and the fire has been extinguished.

"We left the scene at 10.56am. There are no details of any injuries."

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