AN ambulance caught fire on a slip road to St Peter's Way while responding to an emergency call.

The vehicle, which was not carrying a patient, caught fire at about 1.30pm today.

The two paramedics on board managed to escape unharmed, with Burnden Road closed temporarily by police.

Firefighters said the fire had started in the engine, because of a fault, and destroyed the engine bay and the driver's cabin.

The ambulance was written-off and driven away from the scene on a fire service waggon.

Traffic gathered behind the ambulance as the slip road was temporarily shut.

Some diesel was found spilled on the road, with the Highways Agency called to clear it owing to a forecasted dip in temperatures overnight.

A fire service spokesman said: "The ambulance was on a blue light call on the slip road of St Peter's Way when smoke came out from under the bonnet and the engine had caught fire.

"Two guys from the Highways Agency were there pouring water on the bonnet to keep it cool before we arrived and took over.

"It destroyed the engine bay and the cabin. It looked like it was a fault with the engine."

The ambulance affected by the fire was destined for Chorley Old Road, to reports of an elderly woman having fallen.

Another ambulance spotted the stricken vehicle and took the job from them, and the woman was transferred to Royal Bolton Hospital.