Onlookers were treated to an early Fourth of July display when a truck hauling fireworks caught fire on 6 June, sending pyrotechnics skyward along a Tennessee highway.

Sparks flew for several minutes, stopping traffic in both directions, while astounded eyewitnesses filmed the spectacular scene near the city of Chattanooga.

The local fire department said the incident was quickly brought under control with no reported injuries.

The truck's trailer was "full of fireworks", and all of them were "going off in different directions" after it caught fire, the department added.