I LIVE in Walkwood and travel to Moseley every day along the A435. This morning, heading towards Birmingham just a few yards from the Maypole roundabout, a Transit van was on fire in the outside lane.

It was well alight and there was quite thick, acrid smoke.

To my utter amazement, everybody was ignoring it and moving into the inside lane and passing within feet of it, presumably with the risk of the vehicle exploding. People were even queueing in the inside lane next to it.

When it came to my turn, I'll be quite honest I was so frightened I refused to go past it and stopped myself and the traffic behind me. Even then, one man chose not to wait behind me and passed me and the vehicle.

Within minutes of me stopping, fortunately, the fire brigade turned up, at which point we learned there was a gas cylinder on board.

I was shaking and not as far enough away from the vehicle as I would have liked to have been.

The fire brigade were marvellous, put the fire out within minutes, removed the gas cylinder and then directed us to move slowly past with our windows shut.

I still can't believe people were stupid enough to drive past such a vehicle and take such a risk.

I was seething. The fireman said I had done the right thing.

Sallyann Phillpot

Bilbury Close Walkwood