A POPULAR road in Bridgwater was closed off after reports of a fire under a bridge in the town.

The road closure, put in place yesterday (Monday, November 11) at 5:30pm was also in place today, with traffic struggling to deal with the backlog from the incident on the M5.

The bridge at Squibbers Way was taking traffic over a canal today (November 12) and has re-opened after "no structural problems" were found following a fire underneath it.

Devon and Somerset Fire Rescue Service were at the scene with four appliances used by teams from Taunton, Bridgwater, and Nether Stowey.

The popular road, which crosses the River Parrett and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal to the south of the town centre, was inspected to check for any structural problems but was found to be undamaged.

Somerset Council said it reopened the road as quickly as it could, to minimise the impact on motorists already facing delays due to the earlier closure of the M5 between Taunton and Bridgwater.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We received multiple calls at 5.30pm on Monday 11 November reporting a fire underneath a bridge on Squibbers Way in Bridgwater.

"Four appliances from Taunton, Bridgwater and Nether Stowey fire stations attended.

"Crews used breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets and a main jet to extinguish the fire, the source of which was a fridge inside a storage container that is believed to have been deliberately set alight."