Courtesy Kent Messenger - A heroic lorry driver risked his own life by leaping into his blazing truck to steer away from a busy high street. The HGV, carrying GBP100,000 of furniture, burst into flames in Maidstone town centre, Kent, while hundreds of shoppers were on the high street. Video footage shows how 20ft high flames engulfed the lorry trailer while it was parked outside a store. The lorry driver can be seen despairing at the blaze before heroically jumping into the cab and steering the danger away from the narrow street, bustling with families. Just moments after he pulled the vehicle into a less busy street nearby the whole lorry, including the cab, was engulfed by flames. Fire crews were called to put out the blaze, which started at 4pm, on Wednesday afternoon, with stores full of Christmas shoppers.