Firefighters battle inferno after lorry bursts into flames on the M62

This is the moment firefighters tried to put out a raging fire after a lorry full of sawdust burst into flames on the M62. 

A huge traffic jam was caused by the inferno this morning on a stretch of the motorway in West Yorkshire. 

Dramatic video shows the lorry and sawdust reduced to ashes and flames before firefighters arrive to tackle the blaze. 

The footage then cuts to a long string of cars completely motionless as they become caught in a jam amid the chaos. 

National Highways said the eastbound carriageway was closed between junction 22 for Saddleworth and junction 24 for Huddersfield. 

The driver of the lorry managed to escape the vehicle safely but the blaze was described as 'substantial' by a National Highways spokesperson.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had three fire crews at the scene, with drivers advised to used diversions. 

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Two lanes of the westbound carriageway have also been shut due the amount of smoke caused by the fire. 

National Highways said the closure would be extended back to junction 20, to minimise delays between junction 20 and junction 22. 

It added that ten traffic officer patrols had been assigned to the incident and it would take 'some time' to be resolved.  

Traffic jams taking 60 minutes to go through have been reported.