Essex Fire has confirmed the cause as accidental after motorists spotted a van engulfed in flames in the early hours of this morning.

A video circulating on social media showed a vehicle engulfed in flames on the side of the A127, near the M25 turn off.

Shock - Burnt-out van on a major south Essex roadShock - Burnt-out van on a major south Essex road (Image: Newsquest)

Pictures earlier this morning later showed a burnt-out shell of a van after it caught alight overnight.

Essex Fire has since confirmed the cause has been recorded as accidental. 

A spokesman for Essex Fire said: "Firefighters were called to an incident near the A127 West Hordon at 2.08am.

Damage - Van was engulfed in flamesDamage - Van was engulfed in flames (Image: Newsquest)

"On arrival crews confirmed that it was one van which was fully alight. Firefighters extinguished the fire by 2.56am. The cause was recorded as accidental."

No one was injured by the fire.