[Steamdrivenandy]

18 months ago we were driving north on the newly 'smarted' M6 between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford. We were in lane three of four in medium level traffic doing about 70mph.

Suddenly I became aware of dust and smoke about 4 or 5 vehicles ahead in Lane 2 and at the same time the smell of burning rubber entered to car. A large white vehicle up ahead veered from Lane 2 to lane 1 and luckily made it there without hitting anything as HGV's took emergency avoiding action. As we passed the stricken motorhome I could see, out of the corner of my eye, that the offside rear tyre was shredded and flailing against the bodywork and already there were signs of smoke coming from the wheel arch. It was another three quarters of a mile to the next refuge.

Three days later we did the return trip and as we passed that refuge we saw a large burnt patch on the new tarmac, plus a big area of burnt grass. Checking on the local news website the driver had decided to drive on, in anticipation of a refuge appearing and not wanting to risk stopping and being smashed into. By the time he reached the refuge the rear of the motorhome was well alight and was burnt out in the refuge. Luckily the driver and his three passengers escaped unharmed but it must've been a close thing.