The blaze happened at about 4pm yesterday, in the centre of Elswick.
It completely destroyed the farm vehicle.

Fire crews from Wesham and Fulwood were called out and arrived within minutes to tackle the fire.

Onlookers reported the tractor had gone-up in flames after the driver was seen running away from it.

Local resident and Gazette reader Iain Thornley rushed out to see the aftermath and captured these images.

The 21-year-old said: "I heard a massive bang, which everybody thought was thunder at first, because it was just as yesterday's storm hit. I don't know how the fire had started, but there were several explosions.

"My mum shouted to me about it and I went outside to see if there was anything I could do, if the guy needed to be pulled out - but the driver had already got out by himself.

"The whole tractor was just engulfed in flames. I've never seen anything like that. Everyone was just standing around, watching, not knowing what to do.

"It was quite a sight, to see a tractor exploding, just in the middle of the high street."