MEMBERS of the public watched in horror as a van went up in flames.

Just before 6pm on Monday, fire crews from Stratton were called to a van fire on the corner of Dores Road and Beechcroft Road in Upper Stratton.

The fire, believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, completely gutted the van. The owner was not injured.

Police attended to help control the traffic as the incident caused delays to motorists.

Ian Rose, of Beechcroft Road, took these photographs of the aftermath caused by the blaze.

He said: “By the time I arrived, the fire crew were just damping down. Had it not been half-term week, the traffic would have been much worse.

“The van was completely gutted, with the dashboard and steering wheel completely melted.

“The fire had obviously generated a lot of heat.

“Thankfully the owner was not injured and had managed to get most of their belongings from the van.”

The fire service used one hose-reel jet to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters also had to use two breathing apparatus while tackling the fire.

A spokesman for the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire appeared to be accidental, caused by an electrical problem within the van.