THE A27 at Southwick was closed for five hours yesterday (Thursday, July 2) after a road sweeper truck caught fire.
Firefighters were called to the fire in a lay-by on the eastbound carriageway of the road at 1.30pm.
The truck had pulled into the lay-by shortly after the Southwick Tunnel with a puncture when the engine started smoking and caught fire.
Firefighter Scott Hainsworth said "It caused a lot of problems for us because it was carrying a lot of diesel.
"There was red diesel all over the road.
"Because we were using foam and there was the diesel spill it made the carriageway very dangerous and slippery and the heat probably buckled the road as well."
Firefighters from Shoreham, Preston Circus and Hove used 180 litres of foam to put out the fire and stop the diesel spreading.
The road was reopened shortly after 6.30pm.
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