A man has escaped unhurt after his van went up "in flames" on the hard shoulder of the M25. 

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it received multiple calls just after 3pm today (September 16) to report of the car fire between junctions 20 for Hemel Hempstead and 21 for the M1.

An eyewitness told the Watford Observer that they saw a man “getting out the van which had just gone up in smoke and flames", although they added that he did not appear to be hurt.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Mark Barber has confirmed they sent two fire engines to the scene where the crews located a van well alight on the hard shoulder.

Nobody was reported as being injured and one lane was closed as firefighters dealt with the blaze, which was extinguished by 3.25pm.

The incident caused heavy traffic for seven miles from Rickmansworth leading up to the scene as drivers faced speeds as slow as 10mph at points.

The closure was in place for over an hour while National Highways engineers cleared the scene, and all lanes are now open and traffic has cleared, according to Google Maps.