M5 closed after power cable fire

A STRETCH of the M5 was closed for nine hours after a pole holding a 30,000-volt power cable caught fire.

The M5 was closed in both directions and traffic was brought to a standstill after the pole caught fire, causing a cable to fall onto the road, between junctions 23 for Bridgwater and 22 for Burnham-on-Sea.

Firefighters, highways officers and workers from Western Power Distribution attended the scene, closing the road at around 6.45pm.

It remained shut overnight, before reopening at 4am.

A spokesman for WPD said 10,546 properties had their electricity supply disconnected.

He said: “10,545 customers were immediately restored via an alternative circuit. One customer remains off supply while repairs are being undertaken. Our staff have confirmed that the top of the pole had caught on fire, eventually burning through, causing the overhead conductors to clash.”