A BMW carrying a driver and three passengers burst into flames on the M25 between Reigate and Leatherhead this afternoon and is said to be “beyond economical repair”.

Two of four lanes were closed between Junctions 8 (Reigate) and 9 (Leatherhead) while firefighters tackled the blaze and helped to clear the motorway of debris.

Your Local Guardian:

Traffic near junction 8 (Reigate) of the M25. Pic credit: Highways England

Crews from Banstead, Leatherhead and Guildford fire stations were called to the fire at about 1.21pm.

Two firefighters from Banstead fire station used breathing apparatus while tackling the fire with a hose reel.

The crew then handed the scene over to the Highways Agency who cleared the motorway of debris.

Highways England had advised drivers that they might face delays of about 20 minutes before reporting that all lanes were open at about 2.30pm today (Wednesday, June 23).

A spokesman from Banstead fire station said: “Apparently the car got flagged over. People were going past him (the driver) and pointing at his car.

“So they stopped and there were flames at the bottom of the engine coming out from under the bonnet.

“(But when we got there) the front end was going like a train.

“The fire was probably about 75 per cent involved, but we were able to put it out.

“The car was beyond economical repair, but the people were not injured at all.”