A LORRY driver escaped unhurt today as flames engulfed the front of his vehicle.

The trucker was driving east along Southampton Road, Cadnam, just after 7am when the blaze broke out. He steered the vehicle into a lay-by on the opposite side of the road and leapt out.

The blaze destroyed the cab and caused extensive damage to other parts of the lorry.

Crews from two fire stations, Lyndhurst and Redbridge, dealt with the incident, which occurred between Dobbies Garden Centre and the Haywain pub.

Traffic approaching Cadnam from the Totton direction was diverted along Winsor Road.

One of the people who reported the incident on social media said: "The driver ditched it in the lay-by and jumped out. He's fine and the firefighters have put it out."

The lay-by is opposite Saunders Motorworks.

A Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) spokesperson said: "Firefighters from Redbridge and Lyndhurst were mobilised at 7.11am to Southampton Road, where an articulated lorry tractor unit was alight.

"The vehicle was severely damaged by fire.

"The fire was extinguished using two breathing apparatus and two jets. The stop message came in at 8.12am."

A police spokesoerson added: "We were called at 7.14am today by colleagues from HFRS reporting a lorry fire on Southampton Road in Cadnam.

"The road was closed for a short time to allow HRFS to deal with the incident. No one was injured.

"The fire is not being treated as suspicious."