Motorists have faced traffic chaos after a recycling lorry caught fire on a major road.

Fire and police were called to the scene on the A206 Thames Road in Crayford at around 11.26am today.

Lucy Bunyan saw the fire and said its load had emptied onto the road and a JCB was picking through the rubbish.

Lucy said: “There is loads of traffic. It took us at least an hour and a half to get from there to Slade Green.”

Another witness saw firefighters using hoses to extinguish the flames and thick smoke.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “An articulated lorry with around 40 tonnes of waste on board was alight.

“The Brigade’s 999 control officers received six calls about the fire.

“The fire was under control by 1.01pm. Crews from Plumstead and Bexley fire stations attended the scene.”