TWO lorries caught fire after crashing in the early hours of this morning on the M5 between junctions 9 and 11.

One of the lorries had pulled over to offer help and protect a Ford Fiesta, when the second lorry crashed into it at 5.20am.

The first lorry was destroyed by the blaze, which was so intense that part of the Tarmac melted. The cab of the second lorry was also burnt out.

It is not yet known if anyone was injured in the crash.

The motorway was closed in both directions for several hours, and the northbound lanes, between junction 9 and 11, remain closed.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called at 5.20am this morning with a report of a Ford Fiesta leaving the motorway.

"A lorry had then parked behind the ford fiesta to offer help and protect the vehicle.

"There was then a collision between another lorry and the first lorry."

Five fire crews, three from Gloucester, one from Cheltenham, and one from Tewkesbury, arrived on the scene at 5.45am after receiving a call at 5.38am. A water carrier from Cheltenham also attended the incident.

The crews extinguished blazes in the two lorries. The Ford Fiesta was not affected by fire.

Two of the three southbound lanes on the M5 between junction 9 and 11 have reopened, however the northbound lanes are expected to remain closed until tomorrow due to extensive road surface damage that must be resurfaced as a result of this incident.