Drivers are warned of major delays on the M5 today, Friday, October 25, due to a ‘serious’ lorry fire. Traffic in both directions has been held and is now at a standstill, with people out of their vehicles on the motorway.
There are currently four miles of traffic in both directions near Bridgwater, as emergency services battle the fire. Thick black smoke billows into the sky above the motorway as the fire burns.
National Highways has warned of delays of at least 45 minutes. It said: “The #M5 is now closed both ways between J22 #BurhamOnSea and J23 #Puriton due to a serious vehicle fire.
“Emergency services continue to work at scene to extinguish the fire.
“There are 4 miles congestion in both directions causing 45 min delays above normal journey time.”
Witnesses have said traffic has been stopped in both directions on the motorway, as a lorry caught fire southbound. They said: “Fire on m5. At a standstill both directions. Just after Bridgewater”.
Pictures taken from the scene show people out of their vehicles while miles of tailbacks form.
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The fire was first reported around 9.30am. The M5 is closed in both directions as miles of tailbacks form and alternative routes in the area become congested as drivers attempt to divert away.