A vehicle fire caused delays for motorway commuters this morning, while a car accident in Piccotts End also disrupted the morning rush hour in Hemel Hempstead.
Fire crews from Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Garston, Markyate and Harpenden were called to a Mercedes van well alight on the hard shoulder between Junctions 8 and 7 of the M1 southbound at 7.25am.
The van is thought to have been carrying paint and paint thinners, and two hosereels and four fighters in breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the flames.
Police were called for assistance, but the fire crews closed lanes 1 and 2 for around 25 minutes. This led to delays for other drivers, but the scene was left safe by 8.20am.
At 8.23am, police were called to Piccotts End Road to a collision between two vehicles. Two people involved suffered minor injuries, including neck pain, and were taken to Watford General Hospital.
A Ford Focus and a Citroen C4 Picasso, both blue, were removed from the scene by a vehicle recovery service but only appeared to have suffered slight damage.
One driver reported that police were blocking access from Leighton Buzzard Road up to the Link Road during the incident.