This is the moment a van was captured going up in flames on the M1 during rush hour.

The fire broke out as the van travelled southbound on the motorway between junctions 5 and 4 for Watford and Edgware.

Photos taken by a man passing the scene in the opposite direction show the van parked up on the hard shoulder as traffic rushed by and before emergency services had arrived.

Watford Observer: The van fire. Credit: Paul HarperThe van fire. Credit: Paul Harper

The images showed the vehicle, that appears to be a boxvan - almost entirely on fire, with just the cab escaping damage at the time.

Smoke also billowed from the vehicle into the sky.

Watford Observer: The van fire. Credit: Paul HarperThe van fire. Credit: Paul Harper

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue confirmed it received a call at 6.32pm on Wednesday (July 6) to reports of a fire on the M1.

Crews from Borehamwood and Garston attended the scene and put out the fire.

There were no reports of any injuries.