A LARGE fire has destroyed the driver's cab of a tanker and blocked one lane of a busy motorway.

Fire crews from Hightown, Fareham and St Mary’s rushed to the M27 eastbound carriageway just before 9.50am on Tuesday.

Flames were spotted between the cab and load of the vehicle.

Plumes of smoke were drifting across the motorway lanes.

READ MORE: Tanker fire blocks one lane on M27 - live updates

One lane of the M27 has been closed while crews tackled the fire.

It remains closed at this time due to a diesel spillage.

Firefighters also worked to prevent further amounts of leaked diesel, water, and the non-hazardous load in the tanker from entering nearby drains.

The incident was handed over to the Highways Agency before firefighters returned to station at 11.42am.

Traffic is now moving freely.

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