SEVERAL PEOPLE are believed dead and up to 30 people injured following a multiple vehicle pile-up on Britain's M5 motorway near Taunton last night.
The incident involving up to 20 cars and six lorries happened at about 8.30pm on the south-bound carriageway of the motorway.
While the number of dead was not known last night, it is believed 10 of those injured have sustained "life-changing injuries" and are in a serious condition.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said there were 20 "light vehicles" and six articulated lorries involved in the incident. One of the vehicles at the scene was an Iceland truck and the other a TNT branded vehicle.
Paul Slaven of Devon and Somerset Fire Service told Sky News that it was an incident of "incredible magnitude" and said he could not remember an incident of similar scale in his time with the fire service.
Mr Slaven said four people had to be cut from vehicles using hydraulic rescue equipment while fire tenders attempted to put out fires caused by exploding fuel tanks of the crashed vehicles.
He described driving conditions in the area at the time of the crash as "difficult" while eye witnesses reported poor visibility due to wet and very foggy weather.
Mr Slaven said conditions in the nearby town of Bridgewater were poor, with serious flooding in the town centre just a few hours before the multi-vehicle crash. He added that there were 15 fire appliances at the scene.
Coming into the weekend, a large number of motorists were said to be travelling on that section of the M5, which is the main route down to the West Country of Devon and Cornwall, a popular weekend destination.
Speaking to the BBC, Simon Bruford (38), from Willerton in Somerset, who was driving southbound, said: "I could see the flames from quite a way back.
"I spent 18 years in the Somerset fire service and have seen a lot of nasty things, but that was horrific."
One motorist described hearing a loud bang and then saw flames, which he initially mistook for Guy Fawkes celebrations.
It was believed that everyone had been released from their cars by 11.30pm, though fire crews still remained at the scene putting out fires and providing medical treatment.
There were long tailbacks in the area as police tried to divert traffic away from the scene.
