A SEVEN-AND-A-HALF tonne painting lorry caught on fire in Talywain this afternoon.

Jennie Griffiths, head of control at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted that the vehicle was "well alight" on Commercial Road in Talywain, near Abersychan, and a hosereel jet was in use to try and put out the blaze at 2.16pm.

Argus reporter Sophie Brownson reported from the scene that the two men with the lorry were not in it at the time of the fire and by 4pm the fire was out.

Nearby bungalows were evacuated and the road was closed for a time but people have since returned to their homes, she said.

Police officers at the scene said the cause of the fire has not been confirmed but is not believed to be suspicious.