M5 reopens 14 hours after crash and fuel spill

A section of the M5 has now reopened 14-and-a-half hours after a fuel tanker tanker jackknifed, leading to a diesel spillage and crash.

The southbound carriageway between junction 22 for Burnham-on-Sea and junction 23 for Bridgwater in Somerset was shut at about 04:30 BST.

The lorry hit the central reservation and ended up on the hard shoulder, causing damage to the barrier. A car then hit the side of the tanker.

The M5 reopened shortly after 19:00, but National Highways said drivers still face delays of at least two hours, with tailbacks stretching eight miles (12.9 km).

The lorry was carrying petrol but the spilt fuel came from the HGV's engine, National Highways said, adding no-one was injured in the incident.

Clarke Hobbs, operations manager in the organisation's control room, explained the petrol tanker was fully loaded at the time.

It meant 32,000 litres of petrol needed to be pumped into a second tanker before recovery of the vehicle could take place.

National Highways said about 200m (656 ft) of roadside barrier also needed to be repaired.

The closure resulted in heavy congestion along the diversion route on the A38 southbound between East Brent near Dunball and where the road joins the A39 - just before junction 23 of the M5.

Surrounding routes and local roads around Burnham and Highbridge were also been affected by congestion.

Further barrier repairs will be required once other lanes have been reopened when a hard shoulder closure takes place later, National Highways said.

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