A LORRY caught fire outside a Hampshire fire station – but there were no firefighters there to tackle the blaze.

The fire on Easton Lane in Winchester closed the road in both directions between North Walls and the Tesco roundabout in Winnall, on the outskirts of Winchester.

Timea Barna, who works at the Premier Inn, near where the fire began, said: “There were a lot of flames. I was really worried it would blow up. I told everyone to stay back from the windows. It started really close to the drivers seat.”

Another witness said: “The lorry driver just got out and banged on the [fire] station doors – but nobody was inside.

“He was fine. He got out and banged on the fire station doors but nobody was there.”

Watch manager Kevin Robson said they believe the fire started near the engine, but this could not yet be confirmed.

He said the vehicle was mostly empty as the driver had been out on deliveries, but that there had been some damage to cabinets on board.

He added that the crew were at a community safety event in Harestock at the time of the incident, and therefore had to travel across the city to the driver’s aid.

The fire broke out shortly before 4pm, and the road re-opened shortly before 5pm.