M5 traffic LIVE: Major motorway at standstill after caravan crash

Drivers are facing travel chaos on a busy motorway[1] this evening with long tailbacks after a serious crash[2] involving a caravan. Emergency services are on the scene following the smash on the M5 at Avonmouth Bridge on the southbound carriageway. There are reports of debris on the road and traffic has been held at the moment.

Traffic monitoring site Inrix reports: "All traffic being temporarily held and stationary traffic due to debris on road and accident, a caravan involved on M5 Avonmouth Bridge Southbound from J18 M49 to J19 A369 Martcombe Road (Portishead). Traffic held now around 18:35." It follows severe delays on the M5 this afternoon Northbound between J23 A39 (Bridgwater North) and J22 (Burnham-On-Sea), according to AA. Follow our live blog on the motorway crash here:

Severe delays as two lanes of the motorway are closed

Two lanes of the M5 are closed due to the crash involving the caravan.

The incident has happened at M5 Avonmouth Bridge Southbound from J18 M49 to J19 A369 Martcombe Road (Portishead).Lanes three and four (of four) are currently closed.

People sitting on car roofs as they wait in the long queues

Drivers fed up with the long queues have reportedly got out of their cars and are waiting in the hot weather for the traffic to start moving again.

A witness told Bristol Live: "Lots of people sat on car roofs, got out of the car so they are probably wondering why they are stuck."

References

1. ^ motorway (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ serious crash (www.mirror.co.uk)