'It was pretty scary' - vehicles abandoned due to heath fire

A woman says she feared her family's car might go up in flames due to a heathland fire, before they abandoned the vehicle on a main road.

Crews are still battling the fire, which began when a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood, Hampshire, on Sunday, forcing motorists to abandon more than 20 vehicles. It now spans about 100 hectares (247 acres).

Lindsey Legg was with her husband and three children and said "women and children were walking with buggies" on the road and it had been "pretty scary".

National Highways says the dual carriageway remains closed westbound between the M27 at junction 2 for Ower and the A338 at Ringwood and eastbound between the A338 and M27 junction 1 for Cadnam.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said crews in 10 engines and 10 off-road vehicles were at the scene "in challenging conditions".

Forestry England said it was supporting the fire service to make sure it had easy access to the area and had closed a number of car parks.

"The fire is currently estimated as having affected over 100 hectares," it said.

"Bratley View, the Canadian Memorial and Bolderwood car parks are all closed and are likely to stay closed all week, to keep the area clear.

"Incidents like this can be devastating to all of the things that make the New Forest so special. Our team will be carefully assessing the impact once the incident is fully resolved."

Smoke from the fire drifted across both sides of the Solent, prompting fire crews to urge people to keep doors and windows shut.

The fire service said a large hose had been laid from Hightown Lake, just east of Ringwood, to supply water to crews tackling the blaze.

In some areas, the hose crosses several tracks and passes through private property, and residents have been urged not to drive over it as doing so could damage the pipe and disrupt the water supply needed to fight the fire.

On Sunday, 26 fire crews alongside water carriers and specialist off-road units were sent to the scene as the flames quickly spread.

The fire service said the blaze travelled south-easterly from the A31 towards Backley Bottom.

Lindsey Legg was travelling back to Bournemouth from Heathrow with her husband and three children when they came across the fire on the A31.

She told BBC Radio Solent: "We started seeing people abandoning their cars. Women and children were walking with buggies.

"Police told us 'you cant go any further'. We realised the fire was going through the field - it was pretty scary.

"We had to abandon the car and cross the central reservation to get away from the side of the fire. We thought the car was going to go up at one point. It was pretty hairy.

"Massive hats off to the fire brigade - they did a wonderful job."

Police said there were 23 vehicles left behind by motorists and moved by police to be collected at a later point.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight police have advised motorists who had to leave their vehicles behind to call 101 with their number plate details so arrangements can be made for them to get them back.

Traffic travelling westbound is being diverted onto the A326 towards Ashurst Bridge and then onto the A338 to the Ashley Heath roundabout to rejoin the A31.

Traffic travelling eastbound is being diverted onto the A338 towards Bournemouth.

National Highways said there was significant damage to the road surface and crash barrier following the fire and oil spillage from the burnt out vehicle.

It said there was no estimated time for reopening the road.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said it had received more than 160 emergency calls reporting the initial vehicle fire.

The New Forest is home to a large variety of wildlife, including wild ponies, deer, rare birds, reptiles and insects that live in its abundant woodland, heathland and wetlands.