A camper van was gutted after it caught fire on a busy road.

Fire crews from Worthing were called at 12.45pm yesterday after receiving reports of the blazing Volkswagen on Goring Street bridge, near Goring station.

Traffic piled up as the road linking the town to the A259 was blocked for an hour while the badly damaged vehicle was made safe and towed away.

Sub officer Steve Clack said: "Older VWs are a problem to us because of the engine. If you put water on them they can explode.

"Some are made of magnesium and can have chemical reaction. Also, with camper vans, there can be gas involved."

He said crews arrived to find an elderly female driver standing beside her van. She was unhurt.

It is not known how the blaze started.