Gritter lorry catches fire near school

A gritter lorry has burst into flames near a school.

The A361 near Glastonbury has been shut close to Millfield Prep School due to a blaze affecting a Somerset Council vehicle, the local authority confirmed.

Somerset is currently covered by a rare red heat alert, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 37C according to the Met Office. Somerset Council said the gritter involved in the fire was on a routine maintenance run - but added its fleet would have "a busy few days" due to vehicles being used to dust roads at risk of melting in the heat.

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) confirmed the lorry driver had managed to safely get out of the vehicle.

Millfield Prep School is currently open but confirmed it had not been affected by the fire.

DSFRS said it sent two fire engines and a water carrier to the blaze after being called at 08:17 BST.

"Crews are using breathing apparatus and water jets primarily to protect the nearby building," it added.

This latest incident comes a day after a bin lorry in Minehead caught fire when waste it was carrying began burning.

Minehead fire station confirmed two crews attended the small blaze involving domestic waste, which it said was started by a battery catching fire.

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