A DRIVER escaped from his van unhurt after it burst into flames on the hard shoulder of the M61.

The van was on the southbound carriageway at about noon today when an electrical fault caused it to burst into flames.

The driver managed to get out of the van unhurt, but crew manager Rick Henthorne, from Bolton central fire station, said the incident highlighted the potentially deadly danger of vehicle fires.

He said: “It is important to know the warning signs of a vehicle fire – luckily this guy quickly steered himself to the hard shoulder and got out otherwise things could have been worse."

The fire, which happened on the hard shoulder between junction five and junction four of the M61, did not have an impact on traffic. 

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