MOTORISTS are stuck in major delays today after a van burst into flames following a three car crash on the A31 at Sturminster Marshall.

The road was closed for nearly two hours following the incident outside Henbury Heights house, causing tailbacks and congestion across the county as the school holiday getaway begins.

Dorset County Council advised people to avoid the area on Friday afternoon as more than an hour of delays were reported while the road was resurfaced.

Emergency services were called around 10.10am to the scene of the fire between the Roundhouse roundabout on the A350 Poole Road and the Lake Gates roundabout on the B3078 Wimborne Road.

The silver Vauxhall Vivaro van was in a collision with a Nissan Terrano 4x4 and a vintage campervan, just prior to the fire.

The driver of the Nissan 4x4, Maurice Bowtell, aged 72, who was travelling with his wife Gillian, said: “When the tyres on the van burst it sounded like a bomb had just exploded.”

“I'm still very shocked and shaken by the whole accident. I could see a small flame behind the wheel, but it quickly spread and then the whole van was violently on fire.”

The vintage campervan was driven by a young mother taking her two teenage daughters on holiday, but all were unhurt.

The ambulance was called to the scene, but no-one was injured in the collision, including the male driver of the van.

A fire crew from Poole station were sent to the scene and extinguished the blaze using two breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet.

The Highways Agency was also called.

Diversions were put in place at the B3074 at Corfe Mullen, with the road from the Windgreen Service Station also closed.

George Stansfield, driving a classic mini said: “We've been waiting for well over an hour, it's been absolutely horrendous.”