5:29pm Thursday 2nd July 2009
By Samuel Underwood
Motorists were stuck in a nightmare traffic jam in searing heat after a road-sweeper caught fire on the A27.
Cars ended up parked end-to-end on the eastbound carriageway of the A27 near the Southwick tunnel after the blaze shut the road.
The lorry's driver parked it in a lay-by to the east of the tunnel after the vehicle suffered a blow-out.
It then burst into flames at about 1.30pm.
Firefighters quickly dealt with the fire but the gallons of spilled red diesel on the carriageway meant the road had to be closed for several hours while the scene was made safe.
The Environment Agency was called to help with the clean-up operation.
Traffic was diverted down to the A259 and the cars that were trapped between the diversion and the lorry were turned around and led to the alternate route.
The Highways Agency said it expected the road to re-open at about 6pm.
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