Firefighters tackled a blaze on the A127 after a car caught light during rush hour.

Both directions of the busy dual carriageway were affected after the yellow Renault Megane convertible caught light at about 5.20pm.

The vehicle was in the outside lane of the London-bound carriageway between the Tesco roundabout and Kent Elms Corner in Leigh.

The westbound carriageway was closed and the queue stretched all the way back to Cuckoo Corner.

One lane of the eastbound carriageway was closed.

An eyewitness said he was seven cars behind when the blaze broke out.

He said: "I was stuck in it on the way home. It was very, very hot. By the time I saw it it was all burnt out."

Three fire engines, from Southend and Leigh, were sent to both sides of the incident. Two members of the Southend team donned breathing apparatus and used two hoses and foam to tackle the fire.

Sub officer Lee Burling, from Southend fire station, said: "It was completely engulfed by the time we got there. The fuel tank split and it was a running fuel fire.

"It took about ten minutes to put the fire out and then the priority was to get the road open as quick as possible. 

"We are not sure what caused it but it was accidental. We moved it to the little sliproad and the occupants walked home."