THREE people have been taken to hospital following two crashes on the M5.

One person is said to be in a serious condition in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton following a crash on M5 at Taunton Deane Services.

Another person involved in the northbound collision has also been taken to Musgrove Park Hospital.

Adding to the traffic chaos, there was also a separate crash on the M5 southbound between Taunton and Wellington which left a motorhome overturned.

One man is believed to have sustained a head injury in the two-vehicle southbound crash, which also involved a lorry.

South Western Ambulance service was called to the scene at around 3pm.

In the northbound incident, two fire engines attended shortly after 3pm to a two-car crash.

On arrival, crews confirmed that one male was trapped inside one of the vehicles.

Crews got to work using hydraulic cutting gear to extricate him onto a stretcher. 

All lanes both southbound and northbound have now re-opened, however traffic remains slow.

All three lanes northbound were closed for over an hour and traffic was diverted through  Taunton services.

Two lanes southbound were also closed for over an hour. 

Somerset County Gazette:

Emergency services rushed to the scene on the southbound carriageway at 2.40pm, to reports of a crash.

The M5 has been blocked following the crash, and there are long tailbacks already building due to the incident.

Traffic on the northbound carriage is also facing delays as drivers are slowing to look at the scene of the crash.  

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Police said: "The overturned motorhome was blocking all three lanes on the motorway. 

Somerset County Gazette:

"The ambulance is on the scene, but all passengers are out of the vehicles and are safe.

There's also stop-start traffic on A38 in both directions between Chelston Roundabout in Chelston and the Stonegallows junction in Rumwell, and long delays on A38 East Reach, Hurdle Way and Wellington Road in both directions in Taunton between the A358 Obridge Viaduct junction and the A3065 Silk Mills Road junction.

Firefighters were called to the scene.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: " Two fire engines and a rescue tender were mobilised to reports of a road traffic collision on the M5 southbound between junction 25 Taunton and junction 26 Wellington.

"On arrival crews confirmed the RTC was before Taunton Deane services and confirmed that one large motorhome had overturned on the carriageway.

"All persons were free and clear of the vehicle and crews were assisting paramedics with three casualties.

"Crews made the vehicle safe and left duty of care with the police.

"There was also a second incident on the M5 northbound between junction 26 and 25."

More to follow