Four dead after crash on M5 in Gloucestershire involving lorry and several vehicles

Police say four people have died after a crash involving several vehicles and a lorry on the M5 in south Gloucestershire.

The accident happened between junction 16 near Almondsbury and junction 14 near Failfield when a lorry smashed through the central reservation and collided with oncoming traffic.

A woman and two children are in hospital in a life-threatening condition, police said.

Huge queues built up behind the crash scene after the motorway was closed in both directions.

Avon and Somerset Police said: "The closure is likely to be in place for a considerable amount of time and we'd ask people to avoid the area."

Pictures from the scene showed a truck on an embankment, with the rear of the lorry sticking up in the air.

It was surrounded by emergency vehicles at the scene.

Motorists have been advised to follow diversions. Details can be found on the Highways England website: http://m.highways.gov.uk/website/#news

The fatal accident on the M5 happened just three weeks after eight people were killed on the M1 motorway in a collision involving a minibus and two lorries.