Drivers warned to avoid M5 due to long delays after incident
Severe delays, including eight-mile tailbacks, remain along the M5 following an earlier incident involving a risk of electrical cables falling onto the carriageway. This resulted in the full closure of the M5 between junctions 22 (Burnham-on-Sea) and 23 (Dunball) from around midday today (June 26). Avon and Somerset Police said they supported National Grid to get their equipment to the scene, with National Highways traffic officers managing traffic during the closure.
Police said they are still urging motorists to delay travel on the M5 motorway, if possible, due to the severe delays following the earlier closure, which was lifted at 3pm. A spokesperson for the police said: "Given the Red Heat Health warning currently in force, delays of almost two hours, and the increased traffic on the A38 diversion route, we advise avoiding or delaying travel when possible. 
"If you must travel, please ensure you take extra supplies of water and any necessary medication - there's more advice on the National Highways website here: Travelling in extreme heat - National Highways." A spokesperson for the National Grid Electricity Distribution said: "Earlier this afternoon, we carried out essential repair work following a fault affecting equipment in the area near the M5 between junctions 22 and 23. "To allow this work to be completed safely, sections of the motorway had to be temporarily closed in both directions.
"Our engineers worked as quickly and safely as possible to repair the fault.
"We know this was frustrating for people facing longer journeys in the hot weather[1] and are sorry for the disruption caused."