EMERGENCY services were forced to close the A12 after a car caught fire.

The A12 heading Londonbound has now been reopened after the fire service extinguished a car fire.

The A12 was closed between Junction 24 at Kelvedon North and Junction 23 at Kelvedon South.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the closure was as a result of the car fire but arrived on scene and put it out.

An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Firefighters were called to a vehicle fire on the A12 at Kelvedon at 8:15am. 

“On arrival, crews from Colchester and Coggeshall reported that a car was on fire and worked to extinguish the fire by 8:45am."

According the Essex Travel News, drivers can still expect slow traffic despite the road being cleared.