BREAKING: Kildare town centre is shut down as van bursts into flames at traffic lights

There were dramatic scenes in the town centre of Naas today when a van burst into flames on the main street.

The incident occurred shortly after 7pm at the busiest intersection in the town.

The vehicle, believed to be a commercial van, went on fire at the traffic lights which manage the flow of vehicles and pedestrians where North Main Street, Poplar Square and Sallins Road meet.

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It happened at a pedestrian crossing where the lights govern both the traffic and the movement of crossing pedestrians - and within a short distance of popular business premises like Hayden’s pub and Lawlor’s hotel.

The van is pictured shortly after the fire started

It’s understood the driver fled the van before the fire took hold.

It was not immediately clear if the van was stopped at the lights before the fire began or if it was halted after the fire was noticed by the driver.

At least two loud explosions could be heard some distance away initially and these were thought to be caused by an exploding fuel tank.

There were more subsequent explosion-type sounds, possibly caused by tyres bursting.

At least three fire service vehicles attended the scene

Thick black, acrid and foul smelling smoke enveloped the area and it was so dense it was hard to see the burning vehicle from a relatively short distance away.

Gardaí were first on the scene and they closed off traffic along the main street and urged onlookers to keep a safe distance from the smoke and flames.

Firefighters also arrived and extinguished the blaze and for a time the smoke was so dense visibility was reduced to a couple of metres in Poplar Square - where much of the smoke was blown on a windy day.

The bottom part of the town was closed off to traffic.

At least three Kildare Fire Service vehicles were in attendance, including two fire engines.

It is not thought that anyone was seriously injured.