A truck laden with newspapers ignited in a dramatic fire in Canterbury early this morning.
A Fire Service spokesman said emergency services were called to the blaze on State Highway 7 near Hanmer Spring about 1.30am.
The truck, which was carrying newspapers to Nelson, was burning fiercely when firefighters arrived.
"Initial reports were of a tyre on fire but when we arrived the whole truck was involved," the spokesman said.
"That kept us bus for a wee while because there were a whole lot of papers inside ... It was quite a mess."
