A MAN was flown to hospital and an investigation was launched after a vehicle burst into flames in Mold.

The blaze, which happened on Tuesday evening in Bryn Coch Lane, caused the closure of the A5119 Ruthin Road as it was near the junction of the two roads.

Police officers, firefighters and ambulance crews rushed to the scene, where "acrid" black smoke was seen billowing from a stationary blue transit van.

A spokesman for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service told the Leader the incident was reported just before 6pm and one crew from Ruthin attended the scene.

Firefighters used two hose reel jets, a set of breathing apparatus, hydraulic cutting equipment and small tools to tackle the flames.

Paul Turner, of nearby Nant-y-Coed, had been returning home as the incident began to unfold.

He said: "I was turning in to Bryn Coch when I saw the van and two individuals waving - there were small flames at this time.

"I reversed back out onto Ruthin Road, put my hazards on and called 999.

"The smoke just got bigger and bigger - it was acrid and there was a huge cloud of it. Then there was a bang.

"I was concerned that there might have been a bigger explosion, so I kept my distance.

"But the firefighters came and I thought they had it well under control.

"I saw the van afterwards. It was gutted."

Residents told the leader how emergency service workers spread sand across Bryn Coch Lane, as well as some distance down Ruthin Road, due to spilled fuel.

According to residents, the emergency service teams were at the scene until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed two ambulances attended the incident, supported by the Wales Air Ambulance.

An ambulance spokesman said: "One patient was transported by air ambulance to Whiston Hospital, Prescot.”

North Wales Police said the patient taken to hospital is a man and the vehicle had not been involved in a collision prior to the blaze.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.