Commuters did their best to help after two men noticed smoke and flames coming from their car engine.
The pair stopped their vehicle and set off down the A127 London-bound track in search of help.
Luckily a Green Flag rescue vehicle stopped and the driver gave them a fire extinguisher.
Another motorist driving past borrowed a fire extinguisher and returned to the scene, just by the Billericay turn-off. However, by this time the fire had got out of control and firefighters were called.
They took five minutes to put out the blaze, but had to shut off the road causing tailbacks for about ten minutes at 7.17pm yesterday.
Published Tuesday August 20, 2002
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