M5 traffic: Stranded drivers rescued as flooding closes route

Stranded motorists have been rescued after a section of the M5 was closed amid “significant flooding”.

National Highways said the northbound carriageway is closed between J16 for Aztec West and J14 for Thornbury. The southbound is also shut between J14 for Thornbury and J15 for the Almondsbury Interchange.

Firefighters were called to the route at about 01:00 BST.

Steven Basterfield from National Highways described Friday’s downpours as “exceptional” and confirmed about 6,000 metres of water per minute was currently being removed from the motorway.

The route is expected to remain closed for a “number of hours”.

Upon arrival, crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service rescued three people from stranded vehicles and helped to assist others stuck in the floods.

Diversions are in place, but motorists are advised to avoid travelling in the area as traffic is building on other roads.

There are currently delays of 45 minutes and approximately three miles of congestion both ways, according to National Highways.

Mr Basterfield continued: “There’s a lot of work going on at the scene to try and remove this water.

“It’s run off from the fields either side of the motorway and it’s a real multi-agency response.”

High volume pumps are being used at the scene to remove the water, he added.

“There’s extensive flooding in the area so it is going to take some time, but the pumps do seem to be having a positive effect,” he added.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain which covers the south west of England.

It advises that heavy downpours will bring the potential for some flooding and disruption to transport. There is also a chance of power cuts, it said.

The warning is in place until 09:00 on Friday.

Tewkesbury Borough Council is also handing out sandbags to residents to help protect their homes against flooding, advising them to stack them against their doorways.

As of 05:00, the Environment Agency had 63 flood warnings in place and 120 flood alerts, including a red alert for the Tetbury Avon River in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Areas most at risk include properties in Malmesbury around Goose Bridge and St John’s Street, the agency said.