M5 reopens after bridge incident

The incident caused 35-mile-long queues of traffic on the M5

The M5 motorway has reopened after being closed for several hours amid concerns for a man on a bridge.

Police received reports of a man on the Avonmouth Bridge just before 1300 BST and shut all lanes northbound in the interests of public safety.

Officers spent nearly seven hours at the scene talking to the man but he died after falling from the bridge.

The incident left 35-mile-long queues. The queues had stretched back to Bridgwater in Somerset.

The Highways Agency supplied water to stranded motorists and had said it was planning to set up portable toilets.

Assistant Chief Constable John Long, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "While many motorists were understandably frustrated and angry about the disruption and delays to their journey, the safety of everyone concerned was the paramount priority.

"We are grateful to those motorists, their families, friends and everyone else who has been affected by this tragic incident, for their patience and co-operation."

The man has not been formally identified but is believed to be in his late 50s and to come from Bristol.

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