Hours of delays for holidaymakers after lorry overturns spilling tonnes of FLOUR across motorway

Drivers faced travel chaos when part of a busy motorway was shut after 24 tonnes of FLOUR spilled across the carriageway.

The mountains of organic flour were spread across the southbound carriageway of the M5 after the lorry carrying it tipped onto its side following a collision with a car towing a caravan.

The crash, which happened at about 4.30am on Saturday near Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, left two lanes of the motorway closed, causing hours of delays for holidaymakers on their way to their summer getaway.

As well as the flour, the HGV leaked 200 litres of diesel when it flipped onto its side, causing queues of up to six miles as drivers were forced to crawl past the scene using one lane.

Highways England later announced the reopening of another lane but said the recovery operation for the lorry and repairs to the carriageway could take until mid-afternoon on Saturday.

A spokesman said: “The lorry split around 200 litres of diesel and 24 tonnes of bagged flour following the collision, and also caused damage to the safety barrier on the verge.”

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Elsewhere, motorists found themselves delayed after a serious accident on the M6 in Cheshire, causing 15-mile tailbacks.

The motorway was shut in both directions between junctions 19 and 20 after the accident near Knutsford, delaying motorists including sports fans heading to the England v South Africa Test match at Old Trafford.

(Top picture: SWNS)