Overturned lorry shuts Worcestershire M5 motorway

The route was shut after an HGV carrying steel beams and which was being towed hit a barrier (image captured on Wednesday morning)

The M5 northbound was shut overnight in Worcestershire after a serious crash involving an overturned HGV.

National Highways said the route had been closed between junctions six, for Worcester, and five, at Droitwich, at 23:07 GMT on Tuesday.

Emergency services and traffic officers responded, with traffic released at 01:00 after a barrier was cut.

The lorry was carrying steel beams and being towed by a recovery vehicle when it crashed, National Highways said.

It added on Wednesday morning that recovery and barrier repairs had now finished and the road had been gritted before being reopened.

West Mercia Police tweeted the route had reopened shortly after 07:40.

The driver was checked at the scene by paramedics but was not injured and was discharged, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.

Although diversions were in place during the closure, there were several miles of congestion approaching the scene, roads bosses said at the time.