A stretch of the M5 has been closed in both directions due to a fire on a lorry carrying electric vehicles.
The motorway is shut in Devon between junction 28 at Cullompton and junction 29 for Exeter after the incident at just after 06:30 BST, police said.
National Highways said a car transporter carrying nine electric vehicles had caught fire on the southbound carriageway and five Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue crews were at the scene.
Devon & Cornwall Police advised drivers to avoid the area as the “incident has resulted in significant traffic issues”.
Diversions are in place with routes taking motorists through Cullompton, Westcott, Budlake and Broadclyst, National Highways said.
Dan Cooke said he had been in the traffic for an hour and a half and had seen the vehicle go up in flames.
He said: “[There were] plumes of smoke, big black smoke, so we all slowed down and it was a big fire ball that went up straight away exploding across the M5. It was almost like a firework show.”
He added: “Currently there are lots of emergency services here. Several fire engines.
“It’s still smouldering but looks completely destroyed to be honest.”
