Lorry carrying livestock crashes on M5 causing ‘major build-up’ near Taunton

A lorry was reported to have overturned near Taunton on the M5 northbound between J25 A358 (Taunton) and J24 A38 Taunton Road (Bridgwater South). The vehicle was carrying livestock and it is unconfirmed what has happened to the livestock and if there are any casualties at the time of this report. The emergency services were at the scene and were forced to close two lanes of the hard shoulder - which heavily affected the flow of vehicles.

Traffic was practically bumper to bumper, as information provided by AA showed an average speed of 5MPH for several hours after the crash. There was approximately 6 miles of congestion on the approach of J25 and J24 of the M5. Other routes were also affected as traffic tried to reroute following the crash.

There were serious delays on the A38 Taunton Road Northbound between A38 and M5 J24 (Bridgwater South) and the Toneway was also congested as vehicles turned off near Taunton.

A spokesperson for the Avon and Somerset Police said: "Officers remain at the scene of a single vehicle collision between J25 and J24 of the M5, in which a trailer containing cattle overturned.

"The incident was called into us at 1:18pm."