AN agricultural trailer laden with 40 straw bales caught fire as it was being towed along the A27 at Sherfield English this morning (Friday).

The driver of the vehicle pulling the burning trailer pulled into a lay-by.

Two Romsey-based fire crews tackling the blaze had to wearing breathing apparatus because of thick smoke billowing from the bales.

Both the trailer and its load were destroyed in the fire, which broke out at about 11.30am.

The road, which links Romsey with Whiteparish, was closed for a time while firefighters fought the blaze, which is not being treated as suspicious.