Traffic was at a standstill on the M5 between Wellington and Taunton in Somerset on Monday afternoon due to congestion.

Traffic is reported to be stop-start along the route as motorists return home after the New Year break.

With Monday being a bank holiday, many chose to travel, causing congestion on the major route through the Westcountry.

The Traffic England website showed northbound traffic was at a standstill between Junction 26 for Wellington and Junction 25 for Taunton at lunchtime on Monday, January 2.

There were more delays and slow-moving traffic due to congestion further north between Taunton and Bristol, on the A30 in Devon, on the A303 through Devon and Somerset, and on the A35 through Devon into Dorset.

Southbound traffic on the M5 has been slowed over recent days by delays due to a lane being closed on the bridge between Junction 30 for Exeter and the A30 interchange.