MPs call on Government to improve roads following devastating M5 crash

The motorway collision, involving 37 vehicles, claimed seven lives and left 51 people injured. Transport Secretary Justine Greening, who visited the site near Taunton, Somerset, on Sunday, has agreed to meet South West MPs to discuss improved road links. Speaking at Westminster, Oliver Colvile, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, offered his condolences and raised with the Cabinet minister the need for better connections when the M5 is closed.

It is one of only two strategic routes into the South West. The other is the A303, but this has long stretches of single carriageway.

Following the pile-up, traffic was diverted on to the A38 through the village of North Petherton, which experienced traffic backing up for miles as a result. Addressing Ms Greening, Mr Colvile, said: “Is she willing to meet me and others from the South West to discuss how we can improve that connectivity, and to find ways to ensure that when the motorway is closed, as it had to be, we can get to and from places much more easily?” Ms Greening said she was “quite happy” to have the meeting.

Police believe the accident, between junction 24 and 25 on Friday night, was caused by smoke from a nearby fireworks display.