Drivers face severe delays after lorry fire

On October 25, 2024, drivers faced severe delays after a lorry carrying agricultural grade milk powder for Mole Valley, an agricultural supplies company, caught fire on the M5 motorway. The incident closed part of the motorway between junctions 22 at Burnham-on-Sea and 23 at Puriton. By late afternoon, traffic had partially resumed with two lanes remaining closed southbound. National Highways warned that motorists could experience up to four hours of delays compared to usual travel times. Emergency surface repairs were expected later on the same Friday evening. The fire is believed to have been caused by a wheel or tyre failure according to Mole Valley's spokesperson, and the driver was unharmed and immediately contacted emergency services.