TWO good samaritans helped save a driver after his vehicle burst into flames on a busy road.

The white van caught fire on the Southend-bound carriageway of the A127 between the Nevendon to Fairglen interchanges.

The driver pulled over to the side and escaped his van before passers-by stepped in to help contain the blaze until the firefighters arrived.

One witness, who has asked not to be named, said: “I was driving home from work when I saw a white van on fire at the side of the road.

“It was right by the Regatta Garden Centre.

“Two guys had jumped out of their cars and one of them had a fire extinguisher.

“He managed to get it under control by the looks of it and the driver was just sat on the side of the road.

“He looked like he was in shock.

“I don’t think the road was closed at the time because the fire service dealt with it pretty quickly and it kind of happened near the slip road by the garden centre so there wasn’t too much disruption.

“It’s lucky the guys who stopped had a fire extinguisher otherwise the whole vehicle could have gone up in flames.”

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they sent one unit to the scene.

A spokesman said the call was received at about 2pm on Monday, March 11, and the fire was extinguished by 2.15pm.

The driver suffered minor burns in the incident and he was provided with first aid treatment by the fire service at the side of the road.

He was then able to take himself to hospital where it is believed he was treated for minor burns to his arms.

The East of England Ambulance Service did not attend the incident.