Chaos on roads as car fire sends huge smoke clouds into the air

A huge fire engulfed a car, sending a cloud of smoke into the air creating 'bedlam' for rush hour traffic

Police and two fire crews rushed to Portland Beach Road this afternoon at around 2.40pm to a burning car which had partially closed the northbound carriageway.

Black smoke could be seen coming from the car fire (Image: Rupert Haighton)

Police were seen directing traffic in single file, which caused long queues of traffic and severe delays for anyone travelling in and out of Portland.

READ: Firefighters tackle blaze at Ferry Bridge boatyard

Tailbacks backed up through Portland and Wyke Regis as both directions of the A354 were partially blocked from Coode Way (Castletown) to Merley Road (Wyke Regis).

Traffic was affected for several hours, and was felt through Wyke, Lanehouse, Chickerell and Weymouth.

Traffic backing up into Wyke - the queues went all the way back to Chickerell (Image: Andy Jones)

One motorist who was trying to get through to Portland described the scene as 'bedlam' as cars spilled out into side roads looking for a way through.

He said: "All I could see was traffic as far as the eye could see. I was trying to get to Portland Beach Road, but it was taking forever.

"So, I just drove back to Chickerell - it was bedlam.

"On my way back cars were bumper to Bumper all the way back along Chickerell Road."

A police officer directing traffic - allowing one lane at a time to pass the burnt out car. (Image: Andy Jones)

At around 5pm, the car was taken away on a flatbed truck, but police remained at the scene to clear up debris.

A person walking along the path near to the Dorset Wildlife Trust Wild Chesil Centre, close to where the car fire happened, described what they saw as the clean up was underway.

He said: "When I got there, the burnt out car was being taken away, but I could see a police officer sweeping the ash and debris off the road and other officers were directing traffic.

"I imagine anyone trying to get onto Portland will be waiting a long time."

A scorched mark has been left on the road where the car caught fire (Image: Andy Jones)

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: "We had two crews in attendance, from Weymouth and Portland, and two breathing apparatus wearers are using two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire."

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "We were called at 2.50pm on Thursday, June 27 to a report of a car fire on Portland Beach Road.

"The fire service requested assistance with traffic control."