A lorry fire has broken out on the M5 in Devon this morning (Friday, December 20). According to traffic monitoring site Inrix, two lanes are closed heading southbound. We will keep you updated in our live blog below.

The fire has broken out between junction 30 for Exeter and junction 32 for Okehampton. It was first reported by Inrix at around 9.50am.

Inrix says: "Two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to lorry fire on M5 southbound from J30 A379 (Exeter / Service Areas) to J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off)."

It's the start of the festive season rush and millions of motorists are expected to hit the roads this Friday, December 20. Drivers are braced for gridlock with heavy traffic predicted on key routes across Devon and the South West, including the M5, A38 and A30. We will bring you all the major traffic news from the major routes in the South West in our blog below.

According to AA, more than 20 million journeys are expected to be made today alone, with millions more in the run-up to the big day. The RAC has coined the term "pre-Christmas panic" to describe the bustling road activity, warning that the peak times for travel hell today are between 1pm and 7pm.

‘Frantic Friday’ and ‘Snarl-up Saturday’ are forecasted to have the same congested periods, advising travellers to embark on their journeys early morning or late evening, avoiding the worst of the day’s congestion. Traffic experts at both the RAC and INRIX recommend setting out at these quieter times to evade traffic delays.

We will bring you all the traffic updates across the South West in the blog below.

Key Events

Jamie Hawkins

M5 has just reopened

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Toby Codd

M5 lanes remain closed

Inrix says: "Long delays and two lanes closed due to recovery work, hay bales on road and earlier lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton, routes through Exeter as it heads away and affecting traffic coming from Clyst St George and Crealy Theme Park as it joins the M5.

"Lanes one and two (of four) are closed."

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Toby Codd

Devon roads are extremely busy

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Toby Codd

Severe traffic delays

Inrix says: "Severe delays and two lanes closed due to recovery work, hay bales on road and earlier lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton, traffic is sold through Exeter as it heads away and affecting traffic coming from Clyst St George. Lanes one and two (of four) are closed."

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Toby Codd

M5 lanes remain closed

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Toby Codd

Lane closed on A38 in Devon

Inrix says: "Delays and one lane closed due to broken down vehicle on A38 Expressway Westbound near Racecourse Junction."

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Toby Codd

Heavy traffic in Exeter as M5 lanes remain closed

Inrix says: "Long delays and two lanes closed due to recovery work, hay bales on road and earlier lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton, traffic is sold through Exeter as it heads away and affecting traffic coming from Clyst St George.

"Lanes one and two (of four) are closed, the lorry is carrying hay bales which is still being collected."

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Toby Codd

M4 cleared

Inrix says: "M4 Eastbound entry slip road re-opened, delays cleared, recovery work completed and accident cleared at J19 M32 (Bristol).

"From an earlier accident around 1pm today."

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Oliver Astley

Congestion on the southbound M5

Traffic is very heavy on the southbound M5 from junction 29 following the lorry fire. National Highways is reporting that one lane is closed and there are 90-minute delays against expected traffic.

Heavy traffic on the southbound carriageway of the M5 on the afternoon of Friday, December 20 (Image: National Highways )
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Oliver Astley

Broken-down vehicle near junction 27

National Highways is reporting that there is a broken-down vehicle on the M5 southbound entry slip road at junction 27. Recovery is expected to take place by 3.30pm.

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Toby Codd

Serious crash closes Somerset road for 'several hours'

A road near Street is closed following a serious crash this afternoon, Friday, December 20. According to Travel Somerset, the official Somerset Council travel page, the B3151 is expected to be shut for several hours and drivers should avoid the area.

For all of the latest updates from the crash, follow our designated live blog here.

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KEY EVENT

Serious crash in Somerset

The B3151 in Street is closed in both directions following a serious collision. It is likely to remain closed for several hours so drivers are being warned to avoid the area. Read the full story here.

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Toby Codd

Inrix M5 and M4 latest

M5 - DEVON - SOUTHBOUND

Severe delays and two lanes closed due to hay bales on road and earlier lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton and routes through Exeter as traffic heads away.

Lanes one and two (of four) are closed, the lorry is carrying hay bales which is being collected, there are still some hot spots.

M4 - GLOUCESTERSHIRE - EASTBOUND - BRISTOL

M4 Eastbound entry slip road blocked, slow traffic due to accident, two cars involved at J19 M32 (Bristol).

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KEY EVENT

Major M4 delays after two-car crash

Inrix reports: "M4 eastbound entry slip road blocked, slow traffic due to accident, two cars involved at J19 M32 (Bristol)."

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Shannon Brown

Severe M5 delays

Severe delays and two lanes closed due to a lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 ( Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton and routes through Exeter as traffic heads away. The lorry is carrying hay bales, there are still hot spots and are being damped down.

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Toby Codd

Crash on M4

A new log from Inrix says: "M4 Westbound lane closed on entry slip road due to accident, two cars involved at J19 M32 (Bristol). Traffic is coping well. Lane two (of two) is closed."

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Toby Codd

Long delays remain

Inrix says: "Long delays and two lanes closed due to a lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton and routes through Exeter as traffic heads away.

"The lorry is carrying hay bales, there are still hot spots and are being damped down."

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KEY EVENT

Lorry fire being damped down amid long delays

Firefighters are damping down following this morning's lorry fire on the M5 in Devon and lanes remain closed. Inrix reports: "Long delays and two lanes closed due to a lorry fire on M5 southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J29 (Exeter / Honiton and routes through Exeter as traffic heads away. The lorry is carrying hay bales, there are still hot spots and are being damped down."

It is not clear when recovery will take place and lanes will reopen

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Oliver Astley

Crash in Somerset

There has been a crash in Street, Somerset, with diversions in place. Inrix reports: "B3151 in both directions blocked, delays due to accident between Ashcott turn off (Street) and Redlands (Compton Dundon). Diversion - bus 376 is not going via Shepherds Close, Memorial, Peak Lane and Littleton House.

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Oliver Astley

Delays on A38 Devon Expressway

A broken-down vehicle is causing delays on the A38 Expressway in Devon. There is queuing traffic on the eastbound carriageway before the Racecourse junction.

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Oliver Astley

Delays on A303 in Somerset

There are delays on the A303 in Somerset, near Blackford. Inrix reports: "One lane closed due to broken down vehicle on A303 westbound at Compton Pauncefoot turn off."

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Toby Codd

M5 delays of an hour

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Toby Codd

Motorists urged to allow extra time for journeys

Nationla Highways say: "National Highways is advising drivers intending to use the M5 to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys following a lorry fire incident in Devon. The southbound carriageway was earlier closed between junctions 30 (Exeter) and 31 (Torquay, Bodmin/Okehampton) to allow police and the fire service to attend an incident involving a lorry fire.

"The incident occurred on the southbound carriageway just before 10am and with the fire service tending to the hay lorry fire, the carriageway is currently reduced to a single lane, with lane four running past the scene With emergency services still in attendance, and with the clear-up operation and vehicle recovery expected to be protracted, National Highways is advising drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys and where possible, avoid the area and consider alternate routes.

"Up-to-date travel information is available from National Highways by visiting www.trafficengland.com and Twitter updates are also available at @HighwaysSWEST. For urgent real-time assistance, the company’s 24/7 contact centre team is able to provide up-to-the minute information on 0300 123 5000."

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Toby Codd

Lengthy delays as three lanes closed on M5

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Shannon Brown

M5 lorry fire

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Toby Codd

Long delays on M5 in Devon

Inrix reports: "Long delays and two lanes closed due to a lorry fire on M5 Southbound near J31 A38 (Okehampton turn off). Congestion to J30 (Exeter / Service Areas). The lorry is carrying hay bales."

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Shannon Brown

Slow traffic on the M4

M4 Westbound exit slip road partially blocked, slow traffic due to obstruction on the road at J19 M32 (Bristol).Exit slip onto the M32 westbound.

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Toby Codd

Police called to trailer fire on M5

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Shannon Brown

Two lanes closed on M5

Two lanes closed and queueing traffic due to lorry fire on M5 Southbound from J30 A379 (Exeter / Service Areas) to J31 A38 ( Okehampton turn off).

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Oliver Astley

Traffic easing on M5 in Gloucestershire

Traffic is easing on the M5 northbound in Gloucestershire following a crash near Tewkesbury after junction 9 for the A46.

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