Crews have extinguished a serious car fire which is causing major delays around Maidstone.

Emergency services were called to the blaze in Tonbridge Road near the junction with Bower Place at 4.02pm.

Firefighters put out the flames within 20 minutes.

A cordon was set up around the vehicle situated near Rianos Party Venue.

Malcolm Bradley was the driver of the car. The 49-year-old builder from Maidstone was on his way to the tip when the fire broke out.

The South Street resident said: "I was coming up the hill when I saw people were waving at me and cars were flashing me."

"Smoke filled the cab so I stopped and got out. Within seconds the car was burning."

The road was closed temporarily but has now been reopened.

South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended.