A man has described the "scary" moment he drove past a tanker fire on the M27.

The motorist was travelling home to Southampton from Gosport when he saw the clouds of smoke coming from a tanker.

He said: "It was around 9.53am and I saw the smoke from a distance. 

"It was quite scary to see the lorry on fire and all I could think about was the driver."

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

Part of the motorway remains closed after the blaze ripped through the driver's cab.

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

Large flames engulfed the cab and plumes of smoke drifted across the motorway.

One lane of the M27 at junction 9 near Fareham has been closed for several hours while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

It remains closed due to a diesel spillage.

READ MORE: Driver's cab destroyed as fire rips through tanker on M27

A National Highways spokesperson said: "[The fire] involved a lane one closure which means three lanes were open and these remained open.

"The vehicle has now been recovered but has left a diesel spillage.

"Cleaning crews are on site so the remaining lane will be reopened once they cleaned up in the area."

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

A spokesperson from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said the cause could not be confirmed, but said such incidents are usually the result of overheated brakes or engine faults.

Crews 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 their stations at 11.42am.

They added: "Flames were spotted between the cab and load of the large vehicle on the M27 eastbound carriageway this morning.

"Firefighters from Hightown, Fareham and St Mary’s, along with a water carrier from Eastleigh were called to the scene at junction 9 at 9.48am.

"Crews arrived to find the cab well alight and smoke drifting across the lanes.

"The blaze, which destroyed the cab, was extinguished by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using hose reels and jets.

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

"The incident was handed over to the Highways Agency before firefighters returned to station at 11:42."

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