A VAN was ablaze on the M61 in the early hours of this morning with two lanes closed off.

Firefighters were sent to the motorway southbound between junction 8 for Chorley and junction 6 for Horwich after a Ford Transit van was well alight at around 4am.

Crews arrived and put the fire out with all lanes now reopened after road maintenance took place.

Fire engines from Horwich and Chorley attended the scene.

A Horwich Fire station spokesman said: "The van was fully involved in fire, there was nothing left of it.

"The driver was behind the barrier when we arrived. The engine caught fire and spread to the whole vehicle.

"The fire then melted the tarmac on the hard shoulder.

"We used three tanks of water to put it out and we were there about an hour."

Just before 4am, a Highways England spokesman said: "The M61 southbound at J8 (Chorley) to J6 (Horwich) – two lanes have been closed due to a van on fire.

"The fire service are on scene treating the blaze, and recovery has been requested for the vehicle.