A DRIVER and his woman passenger had a narrow escape when a lorry exploded on the A20 near Dover (Mary Graham writes).

The incident happened on a stretch of the road between Aycliff and Capel-le-ferne. Dover fire crews say they believe a camping stove in the back of the driver's cab had been leaking gas.

As the woman passenger lit a cigarette the gas exploded. The driver managed to bring the lorry to a halt at the side of the road.

Firefighters said the woman passenger leapt out of the cab just after the explosion. As the lorry was a left-hand drive, she fell out of the cab onto the fast lane of the road.

Ambulance crews treated the couple at the scene. They were later taken to hospital with minor injuries. The woman passenger had hurt her arm after falling out of the cab.