ONE person has been taken to hospital by air ambulance after a collision between a van and a motorbike on the M5 near Weston-super-Mare this afternoon (October 3).

Emergency services were on the scene of the collision near Lympsham at around 1.39pm and police closed the road to allow the air ambulance to land.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said one person was airlifted to Southmead Hospital.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "We were called at 1.37pm to reports of a serious collision involving a motorbike and van on the southbound carriageway of the M5 between junctions 21 (Weston-super-Mare) and 22 (Burnham-on-Sea).

"Emergency services are in attendance and have closed the motorway in both directions. We would encourage motorists to seek alternative routes.

"If you witnessed the collision or have any information which could help our investigation, call 101 and quote reference 5224260872."

The ambulance service spokesperson said: “We were called at 1.39pm on Thursday, October 3 to a road traffic collision near Lympsham, Weston-Super-Mare.

“We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, an air ambulance, an operations officer, a doctor, and the hazardous area response team to the scene.

“We conveyed one patient by air ambulance to Southmead Hospital.”

The road remains closed, but the northbound carriageway has been reopened, National Highways South West said.

Diversion routes are in place and motorists are being warned of “severe delays” of up to 90 minutes.