A LORRY carrying a fairground ride caught fire on the M5 on Monday, July 15.

The 'heavy goods vehicle' on the hard shoulder of the northbound M5 between J23 Bridgwater and J22 Burnham-on-Sea was well alight from around 9:30am until 11:30am when the fire was extinguished.

The northbound carriageway was closed for hours, and lanes re-opened gradually throughout the day, causing delays of two hours and tailbacks of around seven miles.

In a statement issued at around 11:30am on Monday, a spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called just before 9:30am to a fire on the M5 between junctions 22 and 23 involving a lorry carrying a fairground ride.

"We sent two pumping appliances and a water carrier.

"The driver assisted crews to detach the cab from the trailer and crew used breathing apparatus, water and foam jets to prevent the fire escalating.

"Police attended and closed the M5 northbound while the incident was taking place.

"The fire has now been extinguished and 80 per cent of the trailer was damaged by fire.

"The M5 northbound has been partially reopened."