Bridgwater Mercury
·27 Aug 2026
Police statement after M5 traffic stopped in Somerset
Traffic on the M5 in Somerset was stopped near Junction 18 after Avon and Somerset Police responded to concerns for an individual's safety. The southbound carriageway was later reopened, but delays of up to 40 minutes persisted between Junctions 17 and 18, with additional congestion caused by onlookers. A separate incident near Clevedon and Portishead, along with reported flooding after heavy rain, contributed to ongoing disruption in North Somerset.