A BIKER injured in a horrific smash on the M5 near Taunton is said to be "still serious but stable".

Police say the man is a 61-year-old and he is not believed to be local.

The motorway was brought to a standstill for several hours on Saturday following the serious crash.

The emergency services were called at around 2pm after an accident involving a car and a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist was seriously injured and air lifted to hospital.

The crash happened between the Taunton junction (25) and the Wellington turnoff (26) of the M5.

The motorway was closed in both directions for a short period and caused long traffic tailbacks on the southbound carriageway.

Police reported shortly before 6pm that two lanes of the motorway southbound were still closed, with queuing traffic, with problems on the M5 southbound between Junction 35 and the A358 (Taunton), Junction 26 and the A38 (Wellington) and also Junction 24 and the A38 (Bridgwater).

For a full report, get your copy of this Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.

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Meanwhile, police have issued an urgent appeal for witnesses to the accident.

A motorcyclist is critically ill in hospital with serious head injuries following the crash at 1.55pm.

He was riding a three-wheel 'Can-Am' bike which was in collision with a silver Peugeot 406 estate car.

The smash took place on the southbound carriageway of teh motorway between Junction 25 (Taunton) and Taunton Deane Services.

The southbound carriageway of the M5 was closed for four hours while police collision investigators examined the scene and recovered the motorcycle.

A 43-year-old man was arrested and has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

A police spokesman said: "We are urgently seeking witnesses.

"Anyone who saw the incident or saw a group of motorcyclists, including this unusual three wheeler, are asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 0845-4567000."