A large sinkhole appeared on a busy motorway causing damage to cars and resulting in weekend traffic chaos.
The sinkhole opened up on the M5 on Saturday and forced the closure of two lanes between junction eight for the M50 interchange and junction nine at Strensham, Worcestershire.
National Highways contractors and specialists were sent to the scene to carry out essential repairs, but warned motorists to expect delays of an hour and two and a half miles of congestion as work was expected to be carried out throughout Saturday afternoon and into the evening.
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Gloucestershire Police said on Saturday afternoon: “Lanes one and two are closed on the M5 NB carriageway between J9 for Tewkesbury and J8 for the M50 interchange.
“This is due to a hole in the second lane - several cars have sustained damage. This is expected to cause delays/tailbacks - motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.”
Meanwhile, National Highways South-West said: “There are delays of over an hour on the M5 northbound in Gloucestershire due to emergency road surface repairs taking place between J9 (Tewkesbury) and J8 (for the M50), where two (of three) lanes are closed.”
As if the travel chaos on the M5 wasn’t enough, further tailbacks were seen on the M4 after a car was completely destroyed when it caught fire on the hard shoulder.
The incident happened on the westbound side of the motorway between junction 14 to Hungerford and junction 15 to Swindon, shortly before 3.30pm on Saturday, resulting in two lanes being shut.
According to Dorset and Wiltshire fire service, the driver managed to escape the blaze, but images taken from the scene showed the heavy congestion caused by the fire.
Both lanes were reopened at around 5.40pm, and Newbury Fire Station confirmed that no casualties were reported.
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