The driver of a car which burst into flames on the M8 on Tuesday morning has told at his relief that nobody was injured in the freak accident. 

Raymond Hemmens, 34, was driving to work in Govan when he tried hitting the brakes in his vehicle before it crashed into the back of a nearby van. 

After getting out of the car to investigate the damage, Raymond watched on as his 2005 Volkswagen Polo was engulfed by fire, with some of his belongings still inside. 

Just hours after the ordeal, the Calton resident told of his relief at the lucky escape. 

He added: "I was coming off the M8 slip road and as I was braking to stop the car didn't and kept going into the back of a van. 

READ MORE: Fire crews race to M8 in Glasgow as car bursts into flames

"I got out to check how everyone was as it was almost trapped underneath the back of the van. 

"Luckily, nobody was hurt but when we turned around the car began to smoke and went up in flames. 

"We managed to move the van away and it went up from there. I just had to stand there and watch as it happened. 

"I'm just relieved that, even though it happened, everyone was OK and nobody was hurt."

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called just before 10am to the car fire which took place on the route westbound at junction 24 Helen Street.

The incident happened as motorists struggled through the wintry conditions on the road on Tuesday morning. 

Raymond was forced to stand at the roadside for more than an hour as the blaze was extinguished. 

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However, all of his belongings in the car were lost. 

He said: "It was devastating, but I am just glad everyone was OK. It could have been so much worse if we hadn't moved. 

"I was there for an hour, the car is a complete write off. I asked police if I could go back and check for my work bag and my jacket but everything was gone. 

"Police got me to the station in Govan but they said there is no way of knowing how it happened. I have had the car about a year and I've never had any issues before. 

"The guy in the van was great, they really helped, given the circumstances. As did police, they actually lifted the mood.

"Who knows what I will do now? I think I'm just coming to terms with it now - that's my car gone."