Drivers stuck in four-mile queues after a lorry exploded on the M5 got out of their cars and started kicking a football around.

       The vehicle carrying “agricultural grade milk powder” caught fire, shutting the Somerset section between junction 22 at Burnham-on-Sea and junction 23 at about 9.30am on Friday.

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       Motorists stuck in the traffic jams started playing football together at about 12.30pm while they waited for the road to reopen.

       Kelly Jakeman, 29, from Stourbridge, Birmingham, said: “There were loads of different groups playing football, and it was actually quite nice to see. There were a few mini games going across two miles of road.”

       Local residents reported hearing “three loud bangs” at the start of the incident followed by thick smoke.

       Crews battled the flames with water jets and other equipment. Long delays built up on the M5 in both directions.

       There was also a separate medical emergency on the northbound carriageway between junctions 22-21 which an air ambulance attended.

       The northbound carriageway reopened around 1pm, with long tailbacks to junction 25.

       National Highways warned delays would last for several hours. There is also congestion on local roads through East Huntspill, Bridgwater and Highbridge as traffic tries to divert away from the motorway.

       Mole Valley, the agricultural supplies company, said the lorry was carrying “agricultural grade milk powder”.

       “It was likely a wheel or tyre failure that caused the fire,” a spokesman said. “The driver called the emergency services immediately and the driver is safe.”