FIRE crews were called to reports of a vehicle fire on the A35. 

The stranded vehicle was blocking a lane on the dual carriageway between Bakers Arms Roundabout and Poole on Saturday evening, May 4. 

Two fire engines from Poole rushed to the vehicle and blocked a lane, but it turned out to be a false alarm. 

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) said the vehicle had an engine issue. 

Police were also on scene to assist with a road block, he added. 

The fire engines headed back to the fire station in Safety Drive at 6.15pm. 

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 5.42pm on Saturday 4 May 2024 of a broken down vehicle on the Upton bypass near Poole.

"Officers attended with the fire service. The vehicle was recovered and road cleared at around 7.05pm."

Later that evening, a fire engine from Poole also attended another false alarm in West Howe, along with a crew from Redhill, Bournemouth. 

A 999 call came in just before 9pm to reports of a gas leak in Frost Road. 

DWFRS Fire Control said: “After thorough investigations with FRS gas monitoring and SGN monitoring equipment, there was no sign or smell of gas and thankfully believed to be a false alarm.”