RUBBISH that ignited in a bin van had to be tipped on to a busy main road at rush-hour so fire crews could hose it down.

Fire engines went to King's Road in Brighton at 5pm today, where a van belonging to Brighton and Hove City Council was stopped in the road with smoke pouring from the cage on the back.

The bin men decided to empty the contents on to the main road and 15 minutes later two fire crews from Brighton arrived. There were fears the van was on fire. They remained on scene for half an hour.

The road was closed for about an hour, causing traffic delays.