Lorry transporting hay catches fire on M4, bringing traffic to a stop in both directions

Update: This road has now cleared.

A lorry transporting hay has caught fire near Chippenham closing the M4 in both directions between junctions J16 and J17.

The event is expected to clear between 10.45pm and 11pm tonight (January 10).

National Highways South West expects the fire to take some effort to put out as the lorry was transporting hay.

Traffic has now stopped on the M4 eastbound Junction 16 to Junction17 while Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service deal with the lorry.

At 6pm today National Highways South West said that due to drifting smoke, traffic has been stopped in both directions between Junction 16 and Junction 17.

The road remains at a standstill as Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service continue to work at scene.

The fire service has said that the load keeps reigniting so it is unsafe to run traffic past the scene until it is under control.

It said: "We don't have a clear timescale to do this. If you're in the closure thanks for your patience. We will get you out in due course."

The Wiltshire Police Specialist Operations Team also has officers and traffic officers on the scene.

Wiltshire Police said: "The M4 is currently closed in both directions between Junction 16 and 17 due to a fire involving a lorry carrying hay bales.

"We are supporting colleagues from the fire service at scene and this closure is expected to remain in place for a considerable amount of time."

Normal traffic conditions are expected between 10.45pm and 11pm tonight today (January 10).