ROAD users were told to stay inside their cars with the windows rolled up while fire crews extinguished a large lorry carrying 'hazardous material' on the M5.
Emergency services swarmed junctions between Bromsgrove and Droitwich on Wednesday (February 8) after a HGV lorry caught on fire.
National Highways closed off J4a to J5 of the motorway and four crews from Hereford and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue put out the blaze.
Nobody has been injured amid the fire but drivers have been trapped in gridlock traffic for up to two hours while they wait for the fire to be put out.
READ MORE: M5 Traffic: Lorry catches fire on motorway - live updates
Traffic cones were put up by motorway entrances for the J4a and J5 and frustrated drivers could be spotted turning their cars around to use an alternative route.
A spokesperson from National Highways said: "Hereford and Worcestershire Fire have advised road users to remain in their vehicles and keep windows closed while they extinguish a vehicle fire carrying hazardous material on the M5 northbound near Bromsgrove."
@HWFire have advised road users to remain in their vehicles and keep windows closed while they extinguish a vehicle fire carrying hazardous material on the M5 northbound near #Bromsgrove.
— National Highways: West Midlands (@HighwaysWMIDS) February 8, 2023
M5 is closed north between J5 and J4A. Southbound traffic is held: https://t.co/XGUNAb2ook pic.twitter.com/MQjWBdOaBe
And problems also formed on the alternative routes as one eye-witness who was travelling from Worcester to Bromsgrove, said he opted for the A38 in light of the traffic.
He said: "It has taken me two hours just to get back to Bromsgrove.
"It's crawling in both directions in some places in the A38.
"It's just congested everywhere and it's been a nightmare."
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Officers from West Mercia Police also attended the scene and a spokesperson said the cause of the fire is unknown.
A spokesperson from the fire and rescue service said "We were called out to a large vehicle fire at 2.54pm.
"It was an HGV fire and the crew used a compressed air foam system and two hoses to put out the fire."
Southbound junction reopened at around 5.15pm but northbound lanes were still closed when the story was sent to press.
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