Anyone travelling out of Cornwall today via the M5 has been warned to prepare for delays and diversions following a road closure expected to last well into the afternoon and beyond. 

National Highways says it expects the northbound section of carriageway in Somerset to be closed "for some time."

The closure is between junction 25 (Blackbrook Interchange) and junction 23 (Dunball Interchange).

Emergency services are at the scene and the road is expected to remain closed for some time.

There are currently delays of between 30 and 60 minutes as of 1.30pm. 

Motorists are advised to follow the set diversion, by coming off at junction 25, travelling via the A38 and A39 before rejoining the M5 at junction 23. 

It will cause delays for anyone heading out of Cornwall today via the M5 and travelling as far as Bridgwater or beyond - including to Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2023, which is being held over the next few days. 

The closure follows a serious collision between a car and a motorcycle this morning, between J23 and J24. 

The motorcyclist has since been airlifted to hospital and collision investigation work is now underway. 

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "The M5 has been closed northbound between junctions 23 and 24 following a collision between a car and a motorcycle at about 10.30am this morning (Friday 11 August).

"Police and paramedics have attended the scene. The motorcyclist is being conveyed to hospital by air ambulance.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We were called at 10.29am to a road traffic collision on the M5 near Bridgwater.

“We sent an air ambulance, a doctor, an operations officer, and two double-crewed land ambulances.

“We conveyed one patient by air to Southmead Hospital.”

National Highways said at around 1pm that there were delays of 60 minutes above normal travel time on the northbound carriageway with seven miles of congestion.