A PASSING fire officer and another motorist prevented a car from becoming a fireball on a Kent motorway during yesterday's evening rush-hour.

An Audi estate car had caught fire between junction 4 (Leybourne) and junction 5 (Aylesford) of the M20 at around 6.20pm.

The efforts of the passers-by helped contain the fire.

A witness said there was no sign of the driver when firefighters and police arrived at the scene.