M5 traffic: Fire causes heavy delays on Somerset-Devon border

A reported Land Rover fire on the M5 in Somerset this evening caused severe delays (stock image) <i>(Image: Motorway Cameras)</i>
A reported Land Rover fire on the M5 in Somerset this evening caused severe delays (stock image) (Image: Motorway Cameras)
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A car fire has reportedly caused severe delays on the M5 near the Somerset-Devon border this evening.

The incident, believed to involve a Land Rover, caused severe tailbacks on the southbound carriageway between junctions 26 (Wellington) and 27 (Tiverton) after the blaze broke out at around 7pm.

It is understood that traffic was halted on the carriageway while emergency services attended the scene, but that the incident has now been cleared.

There have been no reports of any injuries as a result of the incident.

It is the second major incident on the M5 in Somerset today (Wednesday, August 26).

Earlier, the road was closed between junctions 23 and 24 after police received reports relating to "concerns for the safety of an individual".

On that occasion, the carriageway was later reopened with no reports of injuries.

Traffic along the M5 is expected to be extremely heavy as we head into the August bank holiday weekend, with the RAC warning that it could be the busiest few days the road has seen in more than a decade.

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