DRIVERS on the M5 through Somerset faced long delays after what appeared to be a fairground lorry caught fire.

A lane of the northbound carriageway between junctions 23 (Bridgwater) and 22 (Highbridge) remains closed after the blaze, which was reported at around 9.30am this morning.

National Highways said drivers were facing delays of around two hours as the vehicle awaited recovery at just before 2pm.

“The lorry has been extinguished and the lorry involved is in the process of being recovered,” a spokesperson added.

Congestion stretched back to junction 25 (Taunton), they said, with traffic queues around 12 miles long.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.