A VAN which caught fire while travelling on the A414 has been successfully extinguished.

The van was travelling towards Maldon when catching alight and pulling into the layby near Limebrook Farm.

The driver was unharmed and stood away from the parked burning van before the blaze spread.

A paramedic was on scene but no one was believed to be injured.

A spokesman for Essex Fire Service said: "Firefighters have been called to a large goods vehicle alight in Maldon. Two hose reel jets were used to fight the blaze and at 3.16pm the fire was sucessfully extinguished."