M5 crash: Overturned lorry spills hundreds of litres of fuel on motorway causing severe delays

Around 131 gallons of diesel was spilled on the road

The HGV overturned and covered the road with diesel fuel (Gloucestershire Police)

An overturned HGV spilled dozens of gallons of diesel fuel on the M5 in the early hours of this morning.

Around 131 gallons (600 litres) of fuel was spilled on the tarmac after the lorry crashed at around 5.40am and blocked all three lanes of the motorway.

The southbound carriageway is currently closed between junctions 8 and 11 near Tewkesbury. Traffic is being diverted to the M50 and A417 into Gloucester and the A40.

The road will not reopen until it is declared safe enough to do so, Gloucestershire Police said. Normal traffic conditions are expected from around 6pm, according to the Highways Agency.

The driver of the lorry suffered minor injuries, police added.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene to assist anyone who may have been trapped in the lorry.

The Environmental Protection Unit was also in attendance to help contain the spillage.