A LORRY driver and his passenger had a lucky escape yesterday when their cargo of fire surrounds burst into flames.

Neil Wake, who had been driving oblivious to the flames in his vehicle, jumped free with his colleague, Stephen Young, after they were flagged down by workers.

Firefighters, who rushed to the scene on Whickham Highway, Whickham, Gateshead, at 1pm, were able to confine the flames to the wagon.

They had to cut into it to get to the seat of the fire and were helped by digger driver John Dickson, who ripped off the back door.

Mr Wake, of Stockton-based Billingham Auto Repairs, said: "I had stopped at temporary traffic lights when I saw people waving to catch my attention.

"I thought that perhaps the back door had come open and drove on because we were close to a delivery.

"But then a worker waved us down and I pulled off. I was got the fright of my life when I got out and saw flames leaping into air."

Station Officer Ashley Howard, of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said the cargo of the Peterlee-based Suncrest wagon, containing marble, timber and fire surrounds, was well alight when they arrived.

"The fire was venting through the roof, but the problem was getting to the seat of the fire - the back doors had also jammed," he said.

"A petrol saw was used to cut a hole in the side and a contract worker used his digger to pulled the back door open. That saved us a lot of time and made it a lot safer."

The road was closed for two hours while the scene was cleared.

The cause of the fire is not known.