AFTER keeping watch overnight, firefighters have now reported that the southbound carriageway of the A12 has now been re-opened and the van and cylinder that casued yesterdy's emergency have been removed from the roadway.

The cylinder was checked and found to be cool and completely stable and ready to move. The van will be taken back to ECFRS' Service Workshops at Lexden where a full investigation into the cause of the fire will take place.

Assistant Divisional Officer Iain McLeod said: "The incident has now come to a close. The van has been loaded onto a truck and is being taken to Workshops where the cause of the fire will be investigated.

"As I leave the scene, traffic behind me has started flowing and the A12 is now fully open."