David McOoui had just left the Tyne Tunnel, at about 11am yesterday, heading south on the A19, when he heard a loud bang from his HGV, which was carrying meat and yoghurt.

Thinking he had blown a tyre, the 45-year-old pulled into a lay-by and checked the vehicle, before carrying on his journey.

But just 50m down the road he heard another loud blast, and saw flames and smoke billow out from beneath the lorry.

He stopped the vehicle and jumped out before going back for his wallet, phone – and Manchester City season ticket – when the flames died down.

But as he opened the door to climb in, there was a third explosion and flames began to engulf the two-year-old lorry, forcing Mr McOoui to flee and wait for the fire service.

Speaking to the Gazette just minutes after his narrow escape, the shaken dad-of-five said: "I can't believe it, I was absolutely terrified.

"I thought that was it for me at one point. I was fearing the worst, but I managed to escape. I'm lucky to be alive really – I'm not even burned at all.

"I pulled in down the road because I thought the tyre had blown, but when I checked they were all intact, so I started up again.

"It was the second bang that really scared me, I thought the whole truck was going to blow up when I saw the flames."

The third explosion on the Sawyers truck stunned residents at the nearby Needham Court Care Home, in Jarrow, and people within a mile radius said they felt the ground shake.

Stephen Hockings, from Stanhope Road, Jarrow, said: "I was in the house and I heard this almighty bang and felt my house shake."

Both the tyres on the right-hand side of the truck blasted off in flames.

Sixteen firefighters tackled the blaze for more than an hour.

Two appliances from Hebburn fire station and two from South Shields arrived at the scene within 10 minutes.

Mick Brownson, acting watch manager at South Shields fire station, said: "We believe the fire was started by an electrical or mechanical fault, although it is still being investigated."

The blast caused traffic chaos, with the A19 closed both ways from 11.05am. Police opened both lanes of the northbound carriageway and one lane of the southbound road at about 6pm yesterday.

Tyne Tunnel managing director Trevor Jackson said: "Although the tunnel was open, the incident drastically affected traffic towards the tunnel for about three hours and the A19 was closed in both directions."

The A19 southbound was down to one lane between the entrance of the Tyne Tunnel and Lindisfarne roundabout.

From 8pm last night until 6am today, all lanes were closed for repair work.