M5 lorry driver taken to hospital with serious injuries

One lane remains closed on the route

A lorry driver has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after an M5 crash.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the motorist following the lorry crashing into a bridge.

The driver was taken to hospital by air ambulance with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed. The incident happened on the northbound carriageway between Junction 25 and 24, near Taunton, at about 06:25 BST.

One lane remained closed for most of Friday but has now re-opened. Somerset Council has warned of major disruption to waste collections because of heavy traffic on nearby roads.

The southbound carriageway was briefly closed to allow the air ambulance to land

Police have now urged witnesses of the crash to come forward.

The council said crews would return on Saturday and Monday to clear the backlog.

"Crews will do their best to complete as many rounds as possible but thousands of collections will need to be rescheduled," a spokesperson said.

Residents should leave their rubbish and garden waste out if it is not collected by the end of Friday.

All lanes have now re-opened.