A quick-thinking trucker unhooked his trailer before it erupted in flames, driving away in his tractor.

It happened between the Junctions 11 and 10 Hythe and Ashford turnoffs on the London-bound M20 at 1am today.

The driver had noticed his brakes overheating and stopped his vehicle to check it.

Folkestone station firefighter Trevor Glass said: “He noticed a tyre alight and tried to put it out with an extinguisher.

“He couldn’t so he unhitched his tractor from the trailer and drove it away. It was then that the fire reached the rest of the trailer and completely destroyed it.”

Two fire engines, from Folkestone and Ashford were called to the scene along with a bulk water carrier from Ashford.

Cress used a compressed air foam system to put out the flames but the trailer ended up 100% destroyed.

Firefighters were at the scene from two-and-a-half hours.

The cause of the blaze is now believed to be overheating trailer brakes.

The driver, a British man, escaped unhurt. He had been transporting a TV outside broadcast unit from Holland.

The carriageway was closed for two hours in the aftermath.