Busy motorway used by 130,000 drivers daily CLOSED after lorry carrying fairground ride bursts into flames

DRIVERS could be facing major delays on the M5 motorway after a lorry carrying a fairground ride caught fire.

The M5 northbound was closed between juntions 22 and 23 near Bridgwater with police on the scene of the incident.

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Earlier photos show traffic stopped as smoke billows from the fairground lorry parked on the hard shoulder[/caption]

According to BBC Somerset, the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service received a call just before 9.30am on Monday morning after the trailer of a lorry caught fire.

The fairground lorry appears to be parked on the motorway’s hard shoulder, while reports say two appliances and a water carrier are currently in attendance along with local police.

A spokesperson for the service said the trailer was “well alight”.

Latest reports suggests there up to seven miles of congestion on the approach, although one lane of the motorway has since been reopened.

However, drivers can expect delays of at least 60 minutes.

Pictures from the scene on the M5 showed long delays with smoke billowing into the air above the motorway.

National Highways South-West has urged drivers to plan ahead with diversion routes in operation.

According to road traffic statistics, over 130,000 vehicles used the M5 motorway daily in 2023.