Car engulfed in flames at the side of the M25 on Thursday night
Footage shows a car burning at the side of the M25 on the evening of Thursday 29 October, with thick smoke rising near an overbridge as traffic slowed to pass it.
A car was engulfed in flames at the side of the M25 on the evening of Thursday 29 October.
Footage shared with UB1UB2 shows the car burning at the edge of the carriageway at about 8.20pm. Thick smoke rises towards a bridge over the motorway. Traffic in the lanes alongside slowed down sharply and edged past the fire.
The person who filmed the clip said it was on the M25, but it is not yet known which junction or which direction of travel it was near.
What is and is not known
The emergency services have not confirmed details of the fire. It is not known what caused it, how many people were in the car or whether anyone was hurt.
Several different fire services cover the M25, depending on where an incident happens. The motorway passes through Greater London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey and Buckinghamshire. In the west, it runs past Heathrow and close to Uxbridge and West Drayton. National Highways, which runs England's motorways, normally manages lane closures and traffic around vehicle fires.
Vehicle fires are among the more common causes of delays on the M25. In separate incidents in the days before and after Thursday's fire, a lorry fire hit traffic at junction 2 near Dartford, and a van fire blocked the anticlockwise carriageway between junctions 9 and 8 in Surrey.
What to do if your car catches fire
If you see smoke or flames coming from your vehicle, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and switch off the engine. Get everyone out of the car and well away from the traffic, ideally behind a safety barrier. Then call 999.
Do not go back to the car for belongings, and do not open the bonnet, because the rush of air can make the fire spread quickly.
Drivers passing a burning vehicle should keep their distance and slow down. They should leave room for emergency vehicles and follow any lane closure signs above the carriageway. If no one appears to have called for help, phone 999 once it is safe to do so, for example with a hands-free device or by asking a passenger.
Anyone who saw the fire, or knows which junction it was near, can contact the police on 101. In an emergency, always call 999.