A MULTI-VEHICLE collision on the M5 caused traffic to be brought to a standstill at around 6pm yesterday (Tuesday December 5), seeing one patient taken to Musgrove Park Hospital by ambulance.

Traffic update provider Inrix reported two lanes were closed on the M5 Southbound between Taunton and Bridgwater due to a multi-vehicle collision which saw one vehicle against the central reservation.

Inrix said: "Queueing traffic and two lanes closed due to multi-vehicle accident on M5 Southbound from J24 A38 Taunton Road (Bridgwater South) to J25 A358 (Taunton). Lanes one and three (of three) are closed, looks like possibly three vehicles in lane one and one car against the central reservation."

Soon after, at 5:55pm, National Highways confirmed traffic was completely stopped due to a collision - Avon and Somerset Police were called to the scene of the incident.

About an hour after the initial report from Inrix, National Highways announced traffic had been released, but lane one of three remained closed.

A further update from Inrix revealed two cars were involved in the crash: "Long delays and one lane closed due to accident, two cars involved on M5 Southbound from J24 A38 Taunton Road (Bridgwater South) to J25 A358 (Taunton). Traffic held around 17:40 until 18:10."

At 7:45pm, National Highways confirmed all lanes had re-opened after the scene had been cleared on the M5's southbound carriageway between J24 and J24.

One individual was hospitalised as a result of the collision.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 17.24hrs on Tuesday 05 December to a road traffic incident on the M5 near Taunton.

"We sent two double-crewed land ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an operations officer and we conveyed one patient by land ambulance to Musgrove Park Hospital.”

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We were called at around 5pm yesterday (Wednesday 6 December) to the M5 between Junction 24 (Bridgwater) to Junction 25 (Taunton) following a report of a three-vehicle collision.

"One person was taking to hospital as a precaution but it is believed there were no serious injuries.

"The road was closed while emergency services attended."