FIREFIGHTERS battled to put out a blaze in a tractor - then had to dramatically use their engine to stop it rolling into nearby motorists.

Crews were called to Bradshaw Road, near The Crofters restaurant just after 7pm last night after reports a fire had started in a tractor.

The blaze had started in the driver's cab and the farmer behind the wheel had been forced to escape from the vehicle.

The crews battled to put out the well formed fire but noticed that the tractor and its 13-tonne load was starting to roll backwards towards queuing motorists in Bradshaw Road.

Fortunately the team had parked their engine across Bradshaw Road to stop motorists driving past and the tractor hit the engine, which halted its movement.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "It was lucky that the engine was there to block it because there were drivers not too far away.

"The fire had started after the farmer heard something pop in his cab and he quickly pulled the tractor over and left the vehicle.

"We were on the scene for more than two hours putting out the fire and making the area safe."