NATIONAL Highways is urging drivers to allow extra time for their journeys ahead of overnight closures of the M5 between Cullompton and Wellington, which start today.

The M5 is set to close for five nights this week (starting November 25) as plans continue to resurface and repair a section of the motorway in Somerset.

During this period, the northbound M5 between junction 28 (Cullompton) and junction 26 (Wellington) will be closed from 9pm to 6am each night, with traffic being rerouted via the A38 and B3181.

This pattern will then repeat until Thursday, December 12.

Further traffic information will be shared as the motorway project advances this month (November).

A spokesperson from National Highways spoke about the ongoing M5 work: "We’re carrying out essential repairs to the concrete that makes up the base layer of M5 around junction 27 near Willand.

"We need to remove the surface layers above the concrete so there will be closures and a contraflow on the M5 to keep everyone on the motorway safe.

"We’ll be starting this work after the main summer holiday time, and making sure three lanes are open in each direction for the October half-term, to minimise disruption. Our work will finish before Easter 2025."