A MOBILE chip van worker set fire to his own vehicle when he left a deep fat fryer on while moving between pitches.
Passing motorists flagged down a Mr Chips mobile van at Staverton after spotting flames pouring out the back, and smoke coming from the chimney at about 4.20pm on Thursday.
Firefighters were scrambled to the scene, close to the Nestl factory, and used foam to douse the flames in a 20-minute operation.
Sub-officer Mike Jenkins said the fire had put the chip van temporarily out of use.
"Leaving a deep fat fryer on while driving along is not the best idea," he said.
"It was a good thing he was stopped by passing motorists as it helped contain the fire in the back of the van. His chip van is definitely out of action."
The Environment Agency was contacted in case foam leaked into the nearby river.
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