Lorry blaze shuts bypass for four hours

Published on 04/09/2012 12:00

POLICE were forced to close a stretch of the Edinburgh City Bypass for more than four hours this morning after a lorry burst into flames on the carriageway.

Traffic was barred from entering the eastbound route at Sheriffhall Roundabout as firefighters battled to tackle the blaze, which started at around 1.50am.

The carriageway reopened at around 6.10am this morning.

Fire crews from Liberton and Dalkeith were faced with a detached HGV trailer which was “well alight” and used a high-pressure hose reel and two breathing kits to bring the fire under control.

The blaze was extinguished at around 3.15am. It is not yet known why the carriageway remained closed for a further three hours.

A fire service spokeswoman said: “Firefighters were faced with a heavy goods vehicle which was well alight.”