A vehicle caught fire on the M4 motorway westbound today, causing tailbacks on the road.

The vehicle was found by the fire service on the hard shoulder shortly after 12.48pm.

Two fire crews from Caversham and Newbury Fire stations put out the blaze, with the help of two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and a hose reel.

It took around 38 minutes to put out the fire. Meanwhile traffic heading towards Swindon had come to a standstill between junctions 12 and 13, the site of the fire.

A Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “At 12.48pm on Thursday, 18 April, we received a call to a report of an incident on the M4 motorway between Junctions 12 and 13.

“Crews from Caversham Road and Newbury Fire Stations were sent to the scene.

“On arrival, crews found one vehicle on fire, on the hard shoulder, and two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel to extinguish the fire.

“Crews were on scene for approximately 38 minutes.”