POLICE closed the A39 at Kilve yesterday as a gas cylinder on a blazing camper van exploded.

Traffic backed up in both directions as the blazing van blocked the road, while firefighters using breathing apperatus from Williton, Nether Stowey and Bridgwater fought to cool down a second cylinder in danger of exploding, using two hose reel jets and one main jet.

The van, which was completely destroyed in the blaze, was later dragged into a nearby field to clear the road.

There were no injuries.

The emergency call was made at around 2pm, and an incident support unit, a rescue tender, a command support unit and a water carrier were mobilised to support fire pumps.

A Red Cross fire victim support unit, which was called to assist the occupants of the camper van, thought to be tourists, was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry while caught in a traffic jam to the east of the village while on its way to the incident.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the camper's engine compartment.