Drivers asked to stay in cars as fire closes M5

M5 closed after lorry fire in Somerset

Drivers trapped in their cars on the M5 are being advised to stay in their vehicles after a lorry carrying chemicals caught fire.

All lanes have been closed between between junction 22, at Burnham-on-Sea, and junction 23 at Puriton since around 09:35 BST on Friday, according to traffic management site Inrix.

National Highways South West has advised drivers in trapped traffic to stay in their vehicles while the fire service work to extinguish the fire, as the lorry is carrying potentially hazardous chemicals.

There are about four miles of congestion in both directions and delays of up to 45 minutes.

All lanes have been closed between between junctions 22 and 23 on the M5

Alana Webb Four firefighters, in protective clothing and yellow helmets, trying to extinguish a fire on the M5. At the bottom of the picture is the motorway barrier, and above is a green lorry with flames coming out of the side. — All lanes have been closed between between junctions 22 and 23 on the M5

Northbound traffic is currently being diverted from junction 23 via the A38 and A39 to rejoin the M5 at junction 22, with the southbound diversion in reverse.

Trapped traffic will be released before the carriageways can be opened and residual delays will remain for some time.

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