UPDATE:

THE M5 motorway is closed in both directions following a serious crash this morning (September 13).

Highways England said the northbound carriageway is closed between J11 Gloucester and J9 Tewkesbury.

The motorway is also closed southbound closed between J9 Tewkesbury and J10 Cheltenham.

Also read:

A Gloucestershire police spokesperson said the multiple vehicle crash happened at 5.20am today. The road is expected to remain closed for the rest of the day.

UPDATE 10.30am:

The northbound M5 between junction 11 at Gloucester and junction 9 at Ashchurch is expected to remain closed until early tomorrow following an earlier incident and vehicle fire, a Highways England spokesperson said.

The southbound carriageway is currently also closed although it is anticipated at least one lane of the southbound carriageway will be reopened shortly.

Motorists are advised to consider their journeys or find alternative routes.

Highways England Network Operations Manager, Beverley Mears, said: “We are working at the scene with emergency service partners.

“Due to extensive road surface damage which will require resurfacing the northbound carriageway is expected to remain closed until tomorrow morning so please bear this in mind when planning your journeys and consider alternative routes.”

Motorists heading northbound are advised to follow the solid triangle, leave M5 at junction 11 and take the A40, then take the A417 onto the M50 at junction 2. Continue on the M50 and re-join at junction 9.

Motorists heading southbound are advised to follow the solid circle, leave M5 at junction 9 and take the A38 and then take the A40 and re-join the M5 at junction 11.

UPDATE 11.45am: