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Recycling lorry fire closes major road

Harriet HeywoodCambridgeshire
News imageCambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service A lorry that has been pulled to the side of the A1 at the junction leading up to a roundabout. The back of the lorry is open and inside it is filled almost to the top with rubbish. The rubbish on top is melted, charred and black from the flames and the top of the lorry is open so the blue sky can be seen. Water is dripping out the back of the vehicle and onto the road as a firefighter stands to the right of it. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Crews inspected the load overnight and into Tuesday

A major road had to be closed because of a fire in a lorry carrying recyclable materials.

The vehicle had been travelling northbound on the A1 between Little Paxton and Buckden in Cambridgeshire at about 15:30 BST on Monday.

Crews from St Neots, Huntingdon and Kimbolton used hose reels and jets to bring the fire under control, and the trailer was moved from the carriageway.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said it could not be unloaded on Monday because of strong winds, and warned it was still causing smoke by Tuesday morning.

News imageCambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Rubbish on the floor at the back of the lorry. The back doors have been closed and a firefighter is stood at the top of a ladder looking into the lorry from above. The outside of the white lorry has been charred and blackened around the top edges. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

A Facebook post at 09:30 said: "If you're travelling near Buckden this morning and can see smoke, please know that this is coming from the trailer following the lorry fire yesterday afternoon."

The service added rubbish would have blown across the area if they had emptied it, and that crews were regularly inspecting the lorry to keep the fire under control.

"We're currently working with a local contractor to find a suitable location for the load," a spokesman said.

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