MOTORISTS were left stuck for hours after a truck carrying hay bales caught fire on the M5.

All three lanes on the M5 southbound were closed between junctions 7 and 8 – Evesham and the M50 – following the incident at around 3pm on Thursday.

Highways England reported that trapped traffic was being released via lane three from around 6pm, with all three lanes not opened again until around 5am the next day.

After the fire was extinguished and vehicle moved off the road, resurfacing work was undertaken before all lanes could be opened.