A section of the M1 had to be closed off after a Renault Megane caught fire between Junctions 6 and 5 last night.

Fire crews from Garston and Watford were called to the blaze on the southbound carriageway at around 11.30pm.

Watch manager Tony Adair, from Garston, said four adults had been in the car when the fire started in the engine area.

He said the driver managed to get the car onto the hard shoulder before all four passengers got out of the vehicle unhurt.

“When we got there the fire had completely engulfed the engine bay and started to come through the dashboard into the passenger area,” said Mr Adair.

“We used a high pressure hose reel to put it out.”

The southbound carriage was closed off for around 10 minutes while the firefighters tackled the blaze.