AN OFF-DUTY firefighter from Weymouth was on hand to help out as a Dorset County Council vehicle caught fire.

It happened just outside Winterbourne Steepleton while the vehicle was heading down Portesham Hill.

Firefighter Henry Asman, 51, was heading to Dorchester behind the council vehicle and noticed flames emerging from inside the wheel arch of the vehicle in front.

The vehicle pulled over and Mr Asman hopped out with his fire extinguisher.

He said: “I was following this vehicle from Weymouth up and over Portesham Hill when I noticed smoke and a flame coming out from the nearside wheel arch, I thought straight away his brake pads must have set fire.

“Sure enough when he pulled over and I got to the vehicle with my dry powder fire extinguisher the driver said he’d stopped because his brake light had turned on.”

Mr Asman, a full-time firefighter at Weymouth, thought work was over after finishing his shift but he soon had to think again.

He added: “It just so happened I was behind him but it wasn’t too much trouble, I sprayed it down and the dry powder put it out straight away.

“It was one of the county council highway maintenance vehicles and once I realised he had his own fire extinguisher I was on my way.”

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “It was a 7.5-tonne tipper being used on construction activities in the Weymouth area. “The guy in the car behind happened to be an off duty firefighter in a private vehicle. We’ve thanked him as he saved the vehicle from greater damage.”